Port Everglades names deputy director

Port Everglades names deputy director

Port Everglades has named a career U.S. Coast Guard officer who was most recently the Captain of the Port of New York/New Jersey to the key position of deputy director.

   In February, longtime Broward County finance director Phillip Allen was named port director, after putting in two stints as interim director. At that time, county officials said it would be up to Allen to bring in a deputy director with a strong maritime background.

Wiltshire

   Wiltshire, a 30-year veteran of the Coast Guard, has been closely involved with port improvement projects at New York/New Jersey for the last two years. As captain of the port from 2004-2006, he was a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-led Senior Partners Group that had oversight of a $2 billion, multi-year harbor deepening project. He also chaired the New York/New Jersey Area Maritime Security Committee, and was responsible for maritime security efforts during the Republican National Convention in New York in 2004.

   He also participated in the development of Department of Transportation policy recommendations intended to address the nation's intermodal transportation challenges.

   Wiltshire was selected after an extensive national search, Allen said.

   'We were looking for a person who could quickly adapt to the port's dynamic and diverse environment,' Allen said. 'Mr. Wiltshire's military experience and knowledge of maritime operations will be a valuable asset to help Port Everglades reach its future development goals.'

      Allen said Wiltshire will start at the port in late August, noting he would be on board just as the port begins the process of developing its new 5-year Master Plan and its 10- and 20-year Vision Plans.

   In addition to serving as captain of the port in New York/New Jersey, Wiltshire's notable career experience includes appointments as chief of staff for the 14th Coast Guard District in Honolulu and as executive assistant to the USCG assistant commandant for marine safety, security and environmental protection in Washington, D.C.

   Wiltshire is originally from Little Falls, N.J. and is a 1976 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy. He also has a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.