Johnson, Cliff

In July 2015, the Federal Maritime Commission selected Cliff Johnson as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Certification and Licensing.    In this role Cliff provides oversight to the Office of Transportation Intermediaries and the Office of Passenger Vessels and Information Processing.  

Cliff came to the FMC from the U.S. Maritime Administration Office of Commercial Sealift, where he worked in the cargo preference and Jones Act programs.   

Prior to joining the Maritime Administration, Cliff worked over 30 years in the private sector, including Pricing and Marketing positions at Lykes Bros. Steamship Company headquarters in New Orleans, and as Vice President of Sales at Italia Line in South Plainfield, NJ.   He also owned a small South Florida based NVOCC before transitioning to the dry bulk business, as an owner of a dry bulk company with ocean-going, inland barging and terminal assets.  He entered the government sector in 2013.

Cliff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College.   He was a licensed merchant mariner deck officer, and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander