AAPA Seaports
AAPA is pleased to announce the promotion of Derek Miller to Government Relations Director. Derek joined the team in 2020 as government relations manager. In his expanded role, he will be responsible for developing policy in safety, security, and procurement, while taking a larger role in managing AAPA’s advocacy and tracking for federal funding and grants. Derek will continue to report to John Bressler, who was recently installed as Vice President of Government Relations.
AAPA has expanded its scope of engagement with the Maritime Policy Team at K&L Gates (KLG) as an additional measure to fill vacancies in the Government Relations department. KLG was signed in the third quarter of 2023 to handle AAPA’s navigation policy portfolio, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) matters, supply chain regulations, as well as special appropriations projects. The KLG team consists of Elle Stewart, Jim Sartucci, Darrell Conner, and Brian Hopkins.
A robust Law Clerk and Intern Program continues to be a priority for AAPA. The pro bono program draws on the strong supply in the Washington, D.C., university community, while also leveraging industry leaders to grow an in-house cohort of younger lobbyists. It is inspiring to see more than half of the alumni have been women of color. AAPA often pairs these talented young professionals with maritime policy and legal positions in the federal government.
