Former Commissioner

Commissioner Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr., of Baltimore, MD, was sworn in as Commissioner for a term to expire on June 30, 2012. He was nominated by President Barack Obama on June 18, 2009, and confirmed by the Senate on July 24, 2009. On September 11, 2009 he was designated Chairman and served in that capacity until April 1, 2013.

Commissioner Lidinsky comes to the Commission as a 37-year veteran in the maritime trade industry from positions held in both business and government. After serving as a Congressional aide on the U.S. House of Representatives Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, he began his professional legal career in the FMC’s Office of General Counsel as Legislative Counsel from 1973-75. In 1975 the Maryland Port Administration appointed him to be Director of Tariffs and National Port Affairs, as well as counsel.

While representing the Port of Baltimore on both regional and national port organizations, he was a key architect of the port protection sections in the Panama Canal Treaty Implementing Legislation and the Shipping Act of 1984. Mr. Lidinsky also helped negotiate on behalf of the port one of the first US-China trade agreements. In 1985 Sea Containers Ltd., the global maritime manufacturer and container leasing company, recruited Mr. Lidinsky to establish their Washington, DC office. As Vice President for Governmental Affairs until 2006, he secured contracts with the Pentagon to supply military equipment from Sea Containers’ factory in Charleston, SC. He also served as a member of the Sealift Transportation Committee of the National Defense Transportation Association; as Board Director and on the Defense, Transportation and Port Security Committee of the British-American Business Association; and as a High-Level Expert to the U.S. NATO Delegation on the Ports and Intermodal Transportation Committee from 1995-2005. Most recently, Mr. Lidinsky worked as an attorney and international trade consultant in private practice.

In 1968 Mr. Lidinsky received his BA from the School of Government and Public Administration of American University, and in 1972 his JD from the University of Maryland. From 1969 to 1975 he also served in the U.S. Coast Guard on active and reserve duty.