TranSystems, an engineering and consulting firm that provides integrated solutions for transportation infrastructure challenges to facilitate the movement of goods and people, announced the addition of Frederick (Rick) Ferrin to our Jacksonville, Fla., office. Ferrin brings 22 years of marine experience as both an engineer and port director. In his new role as Vice President, he will focus his efforts on developing business and serving the firm’s clients in the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions.
Ferrin comes to TranSystems from the Jacksonville Port Authority where he served as CEO directing all facets of daily port administration, operations, planning, engineering, maintenance, finance, security, marketing and business development. Ferrin began his career in the maritime arena as the last of a long line of Army Engineers with the Panama Canal Commission, serving as a senior geotechnical engineer, construction project manager and Assistant Director of the Commission’s Engineering and Construction Bureau. Several years later he served as the Deputy Commander of the Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division, responsible for its civil works program including numerous water resources and navigation (dredging) projects in the ports of Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach.
After a 20-year career in the Army, Ferrin accepted appointments as the City Manager of Hermosa Beach, California, and then in 1994 as the Director of Engineering at the Port of Oakland where he directed all engineering and facilities maintenance efforts for the port’s maritime, aviation and commercial real estate operations.
In 1997, Ferrin joined the Jacksonville Port Authority as the port director and when the seaport separated from the airport in 2001, he was appointed as the CEO of the new Jacksonville Port Authority.
Ferrin holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master’s of Science in civil engineering from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College. He has been a Professional Engineer since 1983.