President Obama intends to nominate attorney Michael A. Khouri, a 35-year veteran of the maritime industry, to a seat on the five-member board of the Federal Maritime Commission.
If confirmed by Congress, Khouri will fill one of two vacant seats on the Commission board and become the second person named as a FMC commissioner by Obama. Two Bush appointees are still serving terms on the panel.
Most recently Khouri served as a private attorney with the Louisville, Ky.-based law firm of Pedley & Gordinier. Prior to this he spent 23 years with Jeffersonville, Ind.-based American Commercial Lines, where he rose to serve as general counsel and senior vice-president. ACL is a barge and shipbuilding firm that services the Gulf Coast and Mississippi River watershed. Previously Khouri served as president and CEO of Memphis, Tenn.-based MERS/Economy Boat, a fuel and supply chandler.
Khouri, who began his maritime career as a deckhand in the 1970s, has also served on the boards of two influential maritime industry trade and lobbying groups– the American Waterways Operators Association and the Waterways Council Inc.
The FMC Board currently consists of Obama-appointee and chair Richard Lidinsky, Jr., and Bush appointees Joeseph Brennan and Rebecca Dye.
