On Tuesday, January 1, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed President Obama’s nomination of William P. Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner. Commissioner Doyle was sworn in on January 10, 2013. Today, a ceremonial swearing-in of Mr. Doyle took place at the Commission.
Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Doyle served over 20 years in the maritime and transportation industry holding senior positions in executive leadership and operations. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Weymouth.
His executive leadership experience includes serving as the Chief of Staff for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), which coupled with his experience as an Officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine, provides him with a firsthand understanding of how the United States relies on its maritime industry for both military and economic security.
Commissioner Doyle also served in the senior management role of Director of Permits, Scheduling & Compliance with the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. He managed and directed the permitting and regulatory coordination of 24 federal agencies, numerous state of Alaska agencies and federal and provincial level agencies in Canada. Commissioner Doyle was a lead negotiator on behalf of the federal government in securing cost recovery agreements with private sector national and multinational companies.
As a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer from 1992 to 2002, Commissioner Doyle’s shipboard experience entailed serving aboard ammunition ships in Diego Garcia, car carriers servicing Europe and the Pacific Rim, tanker vessels delivering jet fuel to Israel, transporting liquid sulfur between U.S. Gulf Coast ports, and in the U.S. Ready Reserve Force fleet aboard vessels in South Carolina.
Commissioner Doyle stated, "I am honored that President Obama nominated and the Senate confirmed me to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission. I look forward to working with my fellow Commissioners to promote a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system; protect the public from unfair and deceptive practices; help increase the export of U.S. goods by facilitating cooperation between the government and the private sector; provide regulatory relief to support U.S. job growth and economic recovery; and find fast and cost effective solutions to disputes between shipping lines and customers to ensure that cargo keeps moving."
Chairman Lidinsky said: "I am elated to have Bill Doyle join our agency. With his extensive international maritime operating experience, he will bring a set of fresh eyes to the vital issues that the FMC faces on behalf of the American port, importer, exporter and consumer."
Commissioner Doyle received his BS in Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and his law degree from the Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the nation’s international ocean transportation for the benefit of exporters, importers, and the American consumer. The FMC’s mission is to foster a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system while protecting the public from unfair and deceptive practices.