Contact
Phone: 202-819-2575
Email: RHarvey@fmc.gov
Biography
Commissioner Robert J. Harvey, of Florida, was nominated by President Trump on September 3, 2025, to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission for a term expiring on June 30, 2029. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on May 18, 2026, and he was sworn in on June 1, 2026.
Commissioner Harvey previously served as the President & Executive Director of the Florida Opportunity Fund, a not-for-profit corporation investing in Florida based start-up companies in life sciences, information technology, advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, homeland security and defense, as well as other technology sectors strategic to Florida.
He also served as the Executive Director of the Florida Development Finance Corporation, the statewide conduit issuer created by the legislature to issue tax-exempt and taxable bonds for the purpose of promoting economic development throughout Florida. Prior to these positions he was the General Counsel at Enterprise Florida, the principal economic development organization for the State of Florida
He has also served as a partner at several law firms over his career, specializing in securities litigation, arbitration, and regulation. Through these senior legal and business roles, Commissioner Harvey has gained valuable experience in navigating and managing public-private partnerships to promote economic growth.
A U.S. Navy veteran and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Commissioner Harvey’s maritime career began when he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, providing legal counsel on military justice, administrative law, federal law enforcement, and naval law.
Commissioner Harvey has a strong interest in the international law of the sea, including freedom of navigation and the right of innocent passage. He is also focused on emerging maritime technologies, including quantum maritime solutions in such areas as route and fleet optimization, sensing and navigation, cybersecurity, secure communications, and predictive maintenance and environmental modeling.
Commissioner Harvey earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University, and his J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, Robert, and his wife Debra hail from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Recent News
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Chairman DiBella and Commissioner Harvey visit Indo Pacific Region
Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Laura DiBella and Commissioner Robert J. Harvey recently visited Sri Lanka and the Maldives, where they underscored the United States’ economic stake in the region’s maritime growth and highlighted the importance…
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Commissioner Harvey Visits Southern California Ports
In July, Federal Maritime Commissioner Robert Harvey traveled to Southern California to meet with leadership from three vital West Coast ports: the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of…
Categories: Robert J. Harvey
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Statement of Commissioners Harvey and DiBella on the Seaport Security Act of 2026
Congressman Patronis recently introduced House Resolution 9229, the Seaport Security Act of 2026, to strengthen protections for America’s port and maritime infrastructure against the growing threat posed by unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flights, commonly…
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Commissioner Harvey Attends White House Summit on American Quantum Innovation
Commissioner Harvey attended the White House Summit on American Quantum Innovation on July 7, 2026. This summit brought together senior administration officials and leading quantum industry representatives to discuss supply chain resilience, accelerating commercialization, and…
Categories: Robert J. Harvey
Upcoming Commissioner Appearances
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Commissioner Harvey Speaking at Northeast Trade and Transportation Conference
October 22, 2026 | Newport, Rhode Island Commissioner Harvey will offer his perspective on the future of ocean shipping regulation, supply chain challenges, and key policies impacting international trade and transportation at Northeast Trade and…
Past Commissioner Appearances
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Commissioner Harvey Addresses ACD Shipping Task Force
October 14, 2026 | Washington, DC Commissioner Harvey spoke at the Alliance for Chemical Distribution’s Monthly Shipping Task Force on October 14, 2026. He engaged with ACD members in an industry-specific discussion about the operational…
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Chairman DiBella, Commissioner Maffei, and Commissioner Harvey Spoke at NCBFAA Government Affairs Conference
September 29, 2026 | Washington, DC Chairman DiBella, Commissioner Maffei, and Commissioner Harvey spoke at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s (NCBFAA) Government Affairs Conference on September 29, 2026. They engaged with…
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Commissioner Harvey Delivered Keynote at ACSA Annual Convention
June 22, 2026 | Charleston, SC On June 22, 2026, Commissioner Harvey spoke at the American Cotton Shippers Association’s (ACSA) 2026 Annual convention in Charleston, South Carolina. Commissioner Harvey discussed the impact that shippers, merchants,…