Jaenichen confirmed as Maritime Administrator

Paul "Chip" Jaenichen

JULY 16, 2014—No more Acting for Paul “Chip” Jaenichen. The Senate yesterday confirmed him as U.S. Maritime Administrator.

Administrator Jaenichen, who joined MARAD in July 2012 when he was appointed Deputy Maritime Administrator by President Obama, has been serving as Acting Administrator since May last year.

Captain Jaenichen was a career naval officer, retiring after serving 30 years as nuclear trained Submarine Officer in the U.S. Navy. His final assignment was as Deputy Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Department of the Navy from October 2010 to April 2012. He served as Commanding Officer of USS Albany (SSN 753) from September 1999 to June 2002 and as Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven in San Diego, California from April 2007 to September 2008. His shore tours included assignments as Director, Submarine/Nuclear Officer Distribution where he was responsible for career progression and assignment of over 5200 officers; as Officer-in-Charge of Moored Training Ship 635, one of two nuclear powered training platforms in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was responsible for initial operational training and qualification of over 1200 officer and enlisted operators annually; and as Chief, European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Policy Division on the Joint Staff where he was responsible for military-to-military engagement on security cooperation and involvement in coalition operations with all 26 NATO member nations.

Captain Jaenichen’s hometown is Brandenburg, Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Masters in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. His personal military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards). He lives in Bowie, MD with his wife, Paula Auclair Jaenichen, who is a National Board Certified teacher.