Sang Yi, former acting head of the U.S. Maritime Administration, has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Port Authorities.
The appointment places a Korean American leader in a key role overseeing advocacy for port industry growth and infrastructure modernization across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.
AAPA announced Yi’s appointment on May 4, saying its board selected him to lead the Washington, D.C.-based maritime trade association as ports face growing pressure to remain modern, safe, efficient and globally competitive.
“Sang is a proven leader who understands the critical role ports play in driving economic vitality and safeguarding national security,” said Chett Chiasson, chairman of the AAPA Board of Directors and executive director of Port Fourchon, according to The Maritime Executive.
AAPA represents more than 130 public port authorities in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. The association advocates for policies supporting port infrastructure, transportation, maritime trade and supply chain competitiveness.
Yi most recently served as deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, or MARAD, where he oversaw programs supporting the nation’s commercial and strategic maritime infrastructure. Before joining MARAD, he served for nearly 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and previously worked in the intelligence community.
He also served as a city councilman in Fairfax, Virginia, and has more than two decades of service as a Navy Reserve officer. He also holds a U.S. Coast Guard-issued merchant marine license.
Yi graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with a degree in logistics and intermodal transportation. He also earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a law degree from Georgetown University Law School.
“I am honored to lead AAPA. Our ports are vital gateways that advance America’s competitiveness,” Yi said in the announcement. “This is a critical time for the maritime industry, and investment in America’s ports has never been more crucial.”
Yi said he looks forward to working with AAPA’s board and members to represent ports and companies that form the backbone of the supply chain and support jobs across the Americas.
