The Maritime Administration has named Alan T. Hicks to head its new Southern California Gateway Office in Ten Gateway Offices have been established in the Nation's largest ports to place a team of intermodal maritime experts "on the ground" that work with headquarters staff, state and local authorities and a broad range of port, shipper and carrier stakeholders to cooperate on projects. The goal is to work on reducing congestion, improving freight and passenger movement, and addressing environmental and community challenges in the ports, intermodal connections, and key freight and passenger corridors. The Southern California Gateway Office will provide support in , Southern California (South of Point Conception), West Coast of Mexico, and . Prior to this appointment, Mr.