President Donald Trump has nominated Capt. Stephen Carmel to serve as the next administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (Marad). If confirmed, Carmel would fill a position that has been vacant since Rear Adm. (Ret.) Ann C. Phillips resigned in January. A previous nominee, Navy Capt. (Re.) Brent Sadler, has since had his nomination withdrawn.
Carmel currently serves as president of U.S. Marine Management LLC, a Norfolk, Va.-based maritime company that operates U.S.-flagged vessels and supports federal contracts. A former captain in the U.S. merchant marine, Carmel brings decades of industry experience to the nomination.
Carmel’s nomination aligns with President Trump’s shipbuilding agenda, intended to strengthen the U.S. maritime industry by expanding the U.S.-flag fleet for both international and domestic shipping.
Marad, an agency within the Department of Transportation, promotes the development, maintenance, and security of the U.S. merchant marine and maritime industry to support national defense and economic interests.
Before joining U.S. Marine Management, Carmel was a senior executive at Maersk Line, Limited, Norfolk, the U.S.-flagged subsidiary of Danish shipping firm A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S. His current company was acquired by Maritime Partners, LLC, Metairie, La., in September 2023 as part of a strategic push to grow in the Jones Act-qualified vessel market.
If confirmed, Carmel would be the first Marad administrator to hold a Master’s Unlimited license since Capt. William G. Schubert, who served from 2001 to 2005.
