Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) hosted a maritime summit last week where leaders from the military, labor, education, local and federal elected officials as well as industry, discussed their efforts in revitalizing the Bay Area’s maritime industry.
“Rebuilding the maritime industry is a national and economic security requirement,” said Rep. Garamendi. “This isn’t just about a new battleship or aircraft carrier, it’s about our country’s ability to build, maintain and crew the maritime capabilities our country relies on. The Bay Area is the epicenter of the American maritime industry’s future. It will be here because there is no place on the West Coast of this great nation that has the potential and the assets already in place for that future.”
During the summit, Rep. John Garamendi presented honors to Zion Jerge, a senior cadet at Cal Poly Maritime Academy who was recently honored for his heroic actions when he saved a father and son from drowning at an apartment pool in Foster City.
The summit featured two keynote speeches from MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmeland Cal Poly Maritime President Jeff Armstrong along with four panel discussions: “Building a Resilient and Competitive U.S. Maritime Future,” “Unlocking Maritime Industrial Capacity in the Northern CA Region,” “Growing the Maritime Workforce,” and “Local and State Level Strategies for Regional Maritime Growth.”
Panelists included MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel; Cal Poly Maritime Academy President Jeff Armstrong; Port of Richmond Director Charles Gerard; Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce; State Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson; State Senator Tim Grayson; and Libby Schaaf of the Bay Area Council among many others.