By Mark Edward Nero
Federal Maritime Commission member William Doyle, who was originally confirmed by the Senate in January 2013 to fill the unexpired term of former Commissioner Joseph Brennan, has been appointed to a full four-year term.
On an 89-0 vote, the US Senate confirmed President Obama’s nomination of Doyle on March 23. Doyle’s expected to be sworn in for his second term “in the next several weeks,” according to the Maritime Commission.
Prior to his Maritime Commission appointment, Doyle spent his career in the transportation sector. He is a Coast Guard licensed engineer and was an officer in the US Merchant Marine, sailing commercially on vessels in the domestic and international trades for 10 years.
From 2011 to 2013, the Commissioner served as the chief of staff for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA). From 2008 to 2011, he was the Director of Permits, Scheduling and Compliance at the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects.
He is a 1992 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. He also earned a J.D. from Widener University School of Law.
“I would like to thank President Obama for his confidence in me and am honored by the Senate’s confirmation,” Doyle said in a statement. “I will continue the important work ahead of us at the Federal Maritime Commission and I look forward to working with the Chairman, my fellow Commissioners and the Commission staff.”