The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation. MARAD administers financial programs to develop, promote, and operate the U.S. Maritime Service and the U.S. Merchant Marine. In addition, it conducts research and development activities in the maritime field; regulates the transfer of U.S. documented vessels to foreign registries; maintains equipment, shipyard facilities, and reserve fleets of Government-owned ships essential for national defense. MARAD also maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies and logistically supporting the military when needed. MARAD also manages the Ready Reserve Force (RFF) and operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
History
When the United States Maritime Commission was abolished on May 24, 1950, its functions were split between the Federal Maritime Board which was responsible for regulating shipping and awarding subsidies for construction and operation of merchant vessels, and Maritime Administration, which was responsible for administering subsidy programs, maintaining the national defense reserve merchant fleet, and operating the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
In 1961, the Federal Maritime Board regulatory functions were assumed by the newly created Federal Maritime Commission, while the subsidy functions were assigned to the Maritime Subsidy Board of the Maritime Administration. In 1964, the US was only moving about 15% of the world's cargo and goods by sea. The Maritime Administration instituted three programs to increase U.S. ship building and make the new U.S. built hulls more efficient and carry larger payloads.
On August 6, 1981, As of 2007, ten companies have signed contracts providing the MSP with a reserve of sixty cargo vessels. The MSP is the largest source for Department of Defense surge fleet.
Past Administrators
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
!
!Portrait
!Administrator
!Term started
!Term ended
!Ref.
|-
| 1
|70px
|Vice Admiral
Edward L. Cochrane
|August 8, 1950
|October 1, 1952
|
|-
| 2
|70px
|Albert W. Gatov
|October 2, 1952
|June 30, 1953
|
|-
| 3
|70px
|Louis S. Rothschild
|July 1, 1953
|February 25, 1955
|
|-
| 4
|70px
|Clarence G. Morse
|March 16, 1955
|May 1, 1960
|
|-
| 5
|70px
|Vice Admiral
Ralph E. Wilson
|July 1, 1960
|February 22, 1961
|
|-
| 6
|70px
|Donald W. Alexander
|October 9, 1961
|October 31, 1963
|
|-
| 7
|106x106px
|Nicholas Johnson
|March 2, 1964
|June 30, 1966
|
|-
| 8
|70px
|Andrew E. Gibson
|March 25, 1969
|July 6, 1972
|
|-
| 9
|70px
|Robert J. Blackwell
|July 7, 1972
|April 9, 1979
|
|-
|10
|70px
|Admiral
Harold E. Shear
|October 19, 1981
|May 31, 1985
|
|-
|11
|70px
|John A. Gaughan
|November 26, 1985
|March 26, 1989
|
|-
|12
|98x98px
|Captain
Warren G. Leback
|October 11, 1989
|January 20, 1993
|
|-
|13
|70px
|Vice Admiral
Albert J. Herberger
|September 14, 1993
|June 30, 1997
|
|-
|14
|70px
|Clyde J. Hart Jr.
|August 6, 1998
|May 21, 2000
|
|-
|15
|98x98px
|Captain
William G. Schubert
|December 6, 2001
|February 11, 2005
|
|-
|16
|70px
|Sean T. Connaughton
|September 6, 2006
|January 20, 2009
|
|-
|17
|70px
|David T. Matsuda
|July 30, 2009
|June 4, 2013
|
|-
|18
|88x88px
|Paul N. "Chip" Jaenichen
|July 25, 2014
|January 13, 2017
|
|-
|19
|70px
|Rear Admiral
Mark H. Buzby
|August 8, 2017
|January 11, 2021
|
|-
|20
|70px
|Rear Admiral
Ann C. Phillips
|May 16, 2022
|January 20, 2025
|
|-
| -
|75px
|Sang Yi (acting)
|June 12, 2025
|December 19, 2025
|
|-
|21
|center|94x94px
|Stephen M. Carmel
|December 19, 2025
|Incumbent
|
|}
See also
- Merchant navy
- Port authority
References
External links
- United States Maritime Administration in the Federal Register
- MARAD page in the U.S. Naval Vessel Register
- Papers of Louis S. Rothschild (Administrator of the United States Maritime Administration 1953-1955), Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
- United States Maritime Administration