U.S. nominates Jeff Lantz to be next IMO Secretary General

In June of this year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will elect a new Secretary-General to replace Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, who has held the position since 2003. The United States has nominated Jeffrey Lantz for the job.

Mr. Lantz is a career employee of the United States Coast Guard, where he has served for more than 35 years, including more than 25 years of active duty. He currently serves as the Coast Guard’s Director for Commercial Regulations and Standards, and is responsible for developing U.S. national maritime safety and environmental protection regulations and policies.

Mr. Lantz has long been engaged with IMO issues, and is currently serves asHead of the U.S. delegation to its principal technical bodies, the Maritime Safety Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee. His knowledge and credibility on international maritime issues, including piracy, maritime security, greenhouse gas emissions, etc., is well-established and contributed to his election as Chairman of the IMO Council, the organization’s second-highest governing body.

Mr. Lantz retired from active duty with the Coast Guard at the rank of Captain in 2001 after numerous assignments in marine safety, including Chief of the Office of Design and Engineering Standards and Commanding Officer of the Marine Safety Center. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1974 and the University of Michigan in 1978, where he obtained advanced degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and in Mechanical Engineering.

March 22, 2011