As our gateway to the Western Pacific, the Port of Tacoma is the economic engine of Pierce County. The huge container ships you see in our bay benefit everyone by bringing family-wage jobs and goods to our communities. With my experience operating large ships in the Navy, I uniquely understand the support the ship owners and operators need in our port – critical to making our port more competitive.

I have extensive experience operating deep draft ships in the US and ports around the world. In my 27 years in the Navy, I’ve worked with ports worldwide including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Dubai, Turkey, Italy, France, and many more.

As Captain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, (CVN-71), I’ve relied on the professionalism of port support to meet the operational schedules of ships in combat, where an hour delay through inadequate planning, support availability, or even worse, accidents, directly affects operational capability. Commercial carriers face the same needs and rely on and deserve the most efficient and safest support for their business.

As Captain of a Navy underway replenishment ship, USS Supply (AOE-6), and as logistics coordinator for US and Allied ships operating in the Arabian Gulf, I have planned for and operated with port services of all types. Tugs, pilots, crowded channel navigation, trucking, cranes – I have worked with them all.

As Director of Advanced Broadband Networks, I know import/export businesses need strong ports and efficient port services. Working for this high-tech business, I bring extensive experience incorporating emerging global communication/network systems and analytical tools to improve all types of business operations. I will apply this the same spirit of innovation to make our port more competitive.

We must focus on attracting new customers and new businesses to our thriving international port. This business growth brings more family-wage jobs that are the basis for Pierce County’s and our state’s economy. To compete with other west coast ports, the Panama Canal and British Columbia, our port must have:

• Ready access to port navigation and pier side services.

• Environmental protections meeting high US standards.

• Safe and expeditious cargo offload and onload.

• Unimpeded train and truck cargo transport.

I will work for broader community outreach and a more competitive port thus growing more family-wage jobs. I ask for your vote so we can work together to make our port more competitive while making it a cleaner and safer contributor to our environment.