Security Appointment
The Board of Trustees of the Maritime Security Institute announced the appointment of retired Brigadier General Kenneth P. Bergquist as its President and Academic Dean. Bergquist is a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy (M&RA) and founding President of the Joint Special Operations University, an institution within the US Department of Defense.
The non-profit Maritime Security Institute (MSI) is the worlds only educational institution dedicated to maritime security and antiterrorism education, training, and research. Located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the MSI provides training to government and industry, such as seaports, shipping companies, and cruise lines in subjects relating to regulatory compliance, such as the UNs International Ship & Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), the US Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), terrorism, piracy, smuggling, and security management. The MSI was recently reorganized following receipt of a financial grant from SeaSecure LLC, a global leader in maritime security and risk management.
In a letter to the Institutes supporters, John Banner, a trustee of the MSI, announced that General Bergquist was the unanimous choice of the Board and welcomed him to his two-year term. General Bergquist is a remarkable leader and educator, and coupled with his distinguished experience in both academia and security operations at the highest levels of government, the Board of Trustees can think of no one more capable to lead the Maritime Security Institute into the new millennium, wrote Banner. He has an extraordinary background and is one of the foremost authorities in counterterrorism and maritime security. There is no one more qualified to assume the role of President and Academic Dean.
In Washington, Bergquist said in a statement, I am honored to have been selected by the Board of Trustees of the Maritime Security Institute to serve as its President and Academic Dean. The mission of the MSI is critical to the security of the maritime industry, particularly in a post-9/11 world. I look forward to working with the Board and our students and constituents, including the many maritime associations, shipping companies, port authorities, and partner government agencies, as we strive to provide the highest quality maritime security training in the world.
Prior to joining the MSI, Bergquist served as the founding President of the Joint Special Operations University within the US Special Operations Command, and as Special Operations Staff Director in the US Central Command during the war in Afghanistan. An attorney, Bergquists background includes having served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (M&RA), Associate Coordinator of Counterterrorism at the State Department, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice, Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the Veterans Affairs Committee of the US Senate, as well as tenure with the CIA.
Following the tragic events of 9/11, maritime security education and training has become a critical issue for governments and industry. The ISPS Code has set strict training standards for the qualification of port and ship personnel that must be achieved by 1 July 2004. The ISPS Code was adopted by the UNs International Maritime Organization (IMO) to address maritime security at all international ports and the security of ships engaged in international commerce.
Source:shiptalk