Randy Rogers became the new Waukegan Port District general manager in November, the American Great Lakes Port Association announced today.
Rogers, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, spent the last 21 years working for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) in a series of diverse positions while earning a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Affairs from the U.S. Naval War College. Previously, Rogers served 11 years in the Navy throughout the Pacific and the Middle East, holding position in operations, logistics and communications.
Rogers' arrival ended a year-long vacancy for the Port District. Rogers, who started a consulting firm in 2013, is overseeing both the harbor and the Waukegan National airport, the Chicago Daily Herald reported.
Rogers has been charged with revitalizing the commercial aspect of the Port. He has already as begun implementing marina improvements, as well as pursuing a $100 million, 1,000 foot extension of the airport runway to accommodate international flights.
In late January, Rogers told the Daily Herald that the Army Corps of Engineers will dredge the outer harbor and approach channel, enabling commercial shipping operations to resume after two years. The recently released FY 2015 Corps spending plan includes $1.53 million for dredging at the port.
"These improvements as well as finding new partnerships and promoting the port's list of services and intermodal connections will produce projects that will create economic development opportunity and jobs for the area," said Rogers.
The Waukegan Port District was welcomed as the newest member of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) at the group's winter meeting on February 11 in Cleveland.