Following the news released last week that Joseph E. Brennan had been designated Acting Chairman of the FMC by President Barack Obama, the administration announced that one of three vacant seats may be filled soon. Pending Congressional confirmation, the new commissioner will be Richard A. Lidinsky Jr.
“We did not anticipate this, but are relieved to see that the Commission is moving forward,” said Michael Berzon, chairman of ocean transport committee of the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL). “We’ll have a better idea of his (Lidinsky’s) qualifications in the coming weeks.’
As reported in LM and elsewhere in the trade press, Commissioner Harold J. Creel Jr. plans to retire at the end of June. That would leave the FMC with Brennan and Rebecca F. Dye as the only two on a five-seat forum. It has been over three years since the Commission was operating with a full bench.
FMC spokesmen were confident that Lidinsky will quick confirmation, telling LM that he is certainly no stranger to the commission. He was served in the FMC’s Office of General Counsel as legislative counsel from 1973 to 1975, and has since gone on to a distinguished career in seaport operations and maritime contracting.
He is currently an attorney and international trade consultant in private practice.
(source: www.logisticsmgmt.com
