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Louis E. Sola

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Louis E. Sola
Commissioner of the
Federal Maritime Commission
Assumed office
January 23, 2019
Nominated byDonald Trump
Preceded byWilliam P. Doyle
Personal details
Born(1968-01-08)January 8, 1968(age 56)
Chicago,Illinois,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materParkland College
Nova Southeastern University
University of Illinois
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1986–1997
AwardsHumanitarian Service Medal-1994 Cuban rafter crisis

Louis Ernest Sola(born January 8, 1968) is an American businessman and politician, who is currently Commissioner of theFederal Maritime Commission.[1]Sola currently works under ChairmanDaniel B. Maffeiand alongside CommissionersRebecca F. Dye,Max VekichandCarl Bentzel.[2]

On November 15, 2018, Sola was nominated to the Federal Maritime Commission by PresidentDonald Trumpand was confirmed by theUnited States Senateon January 2, 2019.[3]He was sworn into office on January 23, 2019, during the government shutdown for a 5-year term expiring June 30, 2023.[4]The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 provided Sola up to two years holdover period to be replaced or renominated.[5]PresidentJoe Bidenrenominated Sola to the Federal Maritime Commission on July 11th, 2024 and sent his nomination to the United States Senate the same day.[6][7]

Sola was distinguished by thePanama Canalwith the "Esteemed Order Bearers of the Master Key" and appointed him "Honorary Lead Pilot ".[8]In addition, he was bestowed the 2021 Seatrade Cruise Man of the Year for his work supporting seafarers during theCovid 19 pandemic.[9]

Sola previously served as aFloridaStateCommissioneron the Board ofHarbor Pilotswhere he chaired the probable cause panel for maritime incidents.[10][11]

Commissioner Sola was honored byMiami-Dade CountyBoard of Commissioners in recognition of his lifelong commitment to public service and promoting vaccines for non-US crew members during theCovid-19 pandemicby receiving the Keys to the County and proclaimed June 18, 2024 –Commissioner Louis E. Sola Day.[12]

Early life and education[edit]

Sola was born inChicago,IL,and was raised inGoodland, Indiana,and thePanama Canal Zone.He received an A.A. in History fromParkland College,where he addressed the 2022 commencement ceremony as the Distinguished Alumni.[13]He received aB.S.in Management from theNova Southeastern Universityin 1996; and aM.S.in International Finance from theUniversity of Illinoisin 1998. He is a two-time graduate (in Spanish and German) of theDefense Language Institute,Foreign Language Center, located at thePresidio of Monterey,CA.[10]

Early career[edit]

Sola served on the Florida Board of Pilots Commissioners where he was responsible for licensing and regulating harbor pilots. He also served on the probable cause panel for maritime incidents. Previously, he was a Sales Executive with Camper & Nicholsons (Fincantieri),Northrop Grumman,andAzimutBenetti.He is a licensed International Ship and Yacht Broker who has constructed over 125 new yachts and ships and is the founder of Evermarine, aMiamibasedmega yachtbrokerage company.[14]Additionally, he served as an Adjunct Professor atFlorida State University.

Sola also worked as a consultant for theInter-American Development Bankduring the United States handover of thePanama Canal.[15]

Military career[edit]

Sola served as a Strategic Debriefer for theUnited States Army Intelligence and Security CommandinMunich,Germany after thefall of the Berlin Wallby strategically debriefing refugees from Eastern Europe. Subsequently, he served in Counterintelligence and Counter Narcotics missions in Panama with theUnited States Southern Command,commanded by future Drug Czar GeneralBarry McCaffrey,during the War on Drugs and the fall ofPablo Escobar.Sola earned the US Army Parachutist Badge (Airborne) and was awarded theHumanitarian Service Medalfor his efforts during the1994 Cuban rafter crisis.[16]His accounts of the resilience of the Cuban people where latter recounted in theFinancial Times.[17]

Politics[edit]

Sola previously ran for theUnited States House of Representativesseat forFlorida's 24th congressional districtas a Republican political candidate against Democratic RepresentativeFrederica Wilson.[18]Both candidates were removed from the ballot which was cited as a factor that led to the2018 U.S. Florida Senate election recount.[19]Sola has publicly stated he will not run for Florida's 26th congressional district in 2020.[20]Sola would have been one of thewealthiest members of the United States Congressaccording to his financial public disclosure.[21]Sola has been featured in the media as a conservative donor and as an early supporter of Donald Trump in 2016.[22][23][24][25]

Federal Maritime Commission[edit]

On April 30, 2020, the Federal Maritime Commission appointed Commissioner Sola to lead "Fact Finding 30," a federal fact-finding investigation on the impacts ofCOVID-19 on the cruise industry.[26][27]This investigation focused on cruise line performance, ticket refund policy, and the economic impacts of theCDCNo Sail Order.[28]Sola recommended an "urgent need for ships to start sailing again" due to the economic impacts on the nation's ports, local governments, and small businesses.[29]

On March 25, 2021, Sola published hiscruise-forwardplan for resumption of cruising focusing upon shore side, crew and passenger vaccinations, while at the same time calling onPresident Bidento donate vaccines withCaribbeanand Central American cruise ports.[30][31]Due to the Canadian ban on cruise ships through 2022,[32]Sola called for modification of thePassenger Vessel Services Act of 1886that requirecruise shipsto stop at a foreign port before calling again on a US port, that eventually became the Alaska Tourism Act.[33][34]Sola also proposed federal consumer protection rule changes to standardize refund practices in the cruise industry in order to protect passengers from cancellations.[35]In an interview withCNBCconcerning cruise line mandates for passengers to have Covid-19 vaccinations before boarding, Sola stated, “I feel much safer on a cruise ship than I do flying."[36]Commissioner Sola dedicated his Seatrade Outstanding Achievement Award toseafarersand crew members, saying 'Without them, we wouldn't be here.'[37]

Sola has been active advocating for the reduction ofGreen House Gasesinmaritime transportthrough greater efficiency and the use of alternate marine fuels by reaching out to stakeholders and government to form anAlternate Marine Fuels Challengeto reduce emissions.[38]In an open letter to US President Joe Biden, Federal Maritime Commissioner Louis Sola has called for the private sector to form an alternative marine fuel coalition ‘to determine the appropriate standards and benchmarks for seeking progress in decarbonisation’, which should also receive government financial support.[39]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Federal Maritime Commission."Commissioners".Federal Maritime Commission.Retrieved1 July2019.
  2. ^The White House."President Donald J. Trump Announce Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts".whitehouse.gov.Retrieved10 July2019– viaNational Archives.
  3. ^"PN2642 - Nomination of L. E. Sola for Federal Maritime Commission, 115th Congress (2017-2018)".congress.gov.2019-01-02.Retrieved2019-11-22.
  4. ^"Maffei and Sola take seats at FMC".FreightWaves.2019-03-02.Retrieved2019-11-22.
  5. ^"President Biden Signs Cantwell-Championed Ocean Shipping Reform Act".U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation.2022-06-16.Retrieved2023-10-26.
  6. ^House, The White (2024-07-11)."President Biden Announces Nominees".The White House.Retrieved2024-07-12.
  7. ^House, The White (2024-07-11)."Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate".The White House.Retrieved2024-07-12.
  8. ^"Commissioner Louis E. Sola Honored with Master Key and Honorary Lead Pilot – Federal Maritime Commission".Direct Source News.2022-01-28.Retrieved2022-02-05.
  9. ^"Seatrade Cruise Awards winners announced | Shorex.org".shorex.org.Retrieved2022-02-05.
  10. ^abFederal Maritime Commission."Louis E. Sola".Federal Maritime Commission.Retrieved1 July2019.
  11. ^The Florida Senate - Executive Appointments."Louis Sola".The Florida Senate.Retrieved1 July2019.
  12. ^"Commissioner Sola Honored by Miami-Dade County".Federal Maritime Commission.2024-06-28.Retrieved2024-07-03.
  13. ^"Distinguished Alumnus".parkland.edu.Retrieved2024-06-25.
  14. ^"SALES BROKER LOU SOLA JOINS NORTHROP & JOHNSON".Northrop & Johnson.2019-02-14.Retrieved2019-09-12.
  15. ^OpenSecrets.org."Reception and Dinner for Trump Victory Fund (R, )".Political Party Time.Retrieved2023-11-14.
  16. ^"sola-commerce-questionnaire-redacted"(PDF).
  17. ^sources, Independent Cuban journalist and other media."Cuba News / Noticias - CubaNet News".cubanet.org(in Spanish).Retrieved2019-09-12.
  18. ^Federal Election Commission."Louis Sola Ernest".Federal Election Commission.Retrieved1 July2019.
  19. ^"'Nightmare in Florida II': The odd ballot that could cost Sen. Nelson the race ".NBC News.12 November 2018.Retrieved2019-09-02.
  20. ^"FMC's shipper commissioner".FreightWaves.2019-07-22.Retrieved2019-09-02.
  21. ^"Financial Disclosure"(PDF).
  22. ^"Donald Trump's supporters in South Florida kick in cash for his re-election".Sun Sentinel.2017-08-01.Retrieved2023-11-14.
  23. ^"Read Why These 100 Business Leaders Want Trump for President".Fortune.Retrieved2023-11-14.
  24. ^"Small business CEO: Trump reminds me of a" NY version "of Reagan".Yahoo Sports.2017-02-01.Retrieved2023-11-14.
  25. ^OpenSecrets.org."Reception and Dinner for Trump Victory Fund (R, )".Political Party Time.Retrieved2023-11-14.
  26. ^Strassel, Kimberley A. (2021-04-15)."Opinion | Cruise Ships in the CDC Dock".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.Retrieved2021-08-30.
  27. ^"Fact Finding 30".fmc.gov.2020.Retrieved2020-10-10.
  28. ^"Cruise passengers struggle refunds amid the pandemic; federal agency report recommends changes".usatoday.2020-07-29.Retrieved2020-10-10.
  29. ^"'Urgent need for ships to start sailing again': FMC report on Florida ".seatrade-cruise.2020-09-23.Retrieved2020-10-10.
  30. ^"CDC tepid on CLIA request, but meantime FMC's Sola has a plan".Marine Log.2021-03-25.Retrieved2021-06-19.
  31. ^"FMC's Sola asks US to share vaccines with Caribbean, Central American cruise ports".seatrade-cruise.2021-05-19.Retrieved2021-06-19.
  32. ^"Canada Extends Ban on Cruise Ships Until at Least 2022".Travel + Leisure.Retrieved2021-06-19.
  33. ^"FMC's Sola calls for limited PVSA exemption, diplomatic action to help Alaska".seatrade-cruise.2021-02-11.Retrieved2021-06-19.
  34. ^Hines, Morgan."President Biden signs Alaska tourism act to allow cruise ships to visit the state this year".USA TODAY.Retrieved2021-06-19.
  35. ^LaRocco, Lori Ann (2021-08-23)."Federal Maritime Commissioner Sola says agency will weigh in on cruise line refunds soon".CNBC.Retrieved2021-08-29.
  36. ^Parkinson, Bruce (2021-08-24)."'Safer Than Flying' Says Federal Maritime Commissioner on Cruising ".Cruise Radio – Daily Updates On The Cruise Industry.Retrieved2021-08-29.
  37. ^"Seatrade Cruise Awards winners announced".seatrade-cruise.2021-09-28.Retrieved2021-10-05.
  38. ^"Commissioner Sola Meets with Senior Leadership of MSC and CMA to Discuss Environmental Issues - Federal Maritime Commission".fmc.gov.Retrieved2023-10-26.
  39. ^Bankes-Hughes, Lesley (2023-11-09)."AMERICAS: FMC's Sola calls for a new alternative fuels coalition".Bunkerspot - Independent Intelligence for the Global Bunker Industry.Retrieved2023-11-14.
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