Executive Director Paul Whitescarver has added another title to his impressive resume – Chairman of the Connecticut Port Authority Board of Directors.
Paul was elected in August by his peers following former Chairman David Kooris’ announcement that he was stepping back from the leadership post but would remain on the Board.
“A key element of the Connecticut Port Authority mission is to drive the maritime economy of the state, a mission similar to that of seCTer’s,” Paul said. “While this new post comes with added responsibility, it fits well with my daily objective to drive the overall economy of this region, an economy largely reliant on the maritime industry which directly or indirectly supports a significant portion of our workers and their families.”
Paul, a highly decorated retired U.S. Navy officer who was Commanding Officer of the submarine Scranton and Commanding Officer of U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London – in Groton – was appointed to the Port Authority Board by Gov. Ned Lamont in 2023. Paul is well versed in the workings of the CPA, having been asked to step in on an emergency basis in July 2019 as senior executive consultant in charge of daily operations and management following the forced departure of the Chairman of the Board amid controversy.
Paul takes the helm from Kooris, who oversaw the transition of New London’s State Pier from an underutilized state asset into an advanced maritime terminal. State Pier currently serves as the East Coast’s premier marshaling and assembly hub for offshore wind farms being developed off the coast, including Connecticut’s first offshore wind farm, Revolution Wind, and two New York offshore wind farms. Kooris, recently appointed as the first Executive Director of the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, remains a member of the CPA Board.
Revenue generated by offshore wind activity at State Pier will help fund the CPA’s Small Harbors Improvement Projects Program, (SHIPP) which provides grants to improve maritime infrastructure, increase public access to the waterfront, and strengthen the economic viability of harbors and marinas across the state. “The offshore wind industry is a new economic driver in the region and now, revenue from one of our three large harbors, New London, will in turn help drive our recreational maritime economy by supporting projects in small harbors through the SHIPP,” Paul said. “I think many people underestimate the jobs and revenue generated in small harbors through the recreational boating industry and I look forward to enhancing these harbors.”
