The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has returned to full operational strength following the swearing-in of Robert J. Harvey as its newest commissioner, filling a long-standing vacancy on the five-member panel.
Harvey, a Florida native, was officially sworn in on Monday, completing the Commission’s lineup after the departure of Carl Bentzel in December 2024 had left the seat open for several months.
A Navy veteran and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with experience in securities litigation, Harvey was nominated by President Donald Trump in September 2025 for a term running through June 30, 2029. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate on May 18, and he was formally appointed to the Commission on May 28.
His arrival marks the third recent FMC appointment from Florida under the Trump administration, following current agency chair Laura DiBella and former chair Louis Sola.
Before joining the Commission, Harvey held several senior roles in Florida’s economic development ecosystem. He served as president and executive director of the Florida Opportunity Fund, a nonprofit organisation focused on investing in local startups, and also led the Florida Development Finance Corporation, which issues bonds aimed at supporting economic growth initiatives. Earlier in his career, he was general counsel at Enterprise Florida, the state’s official economic development organisation.
The FMC now operates with a 3-2 Republican majority. Alongside DiBella and Harvey, Republican representation includes longtime commissioner Rebecca Dye. The Democratic members of the panel are former chair Daniel Maffei and Max Vekich, a former officer with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
The Commission plays a central role in regulating U.S. international ocean transportation systems, overseeing carrier practices, supply chain fairness and competition within the maritime sector—making full staffing particularly significant at a time of heightened global shipping scrutiny.
