Dye, Rebecca
Federal Maritime Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye is one of the nation’s most experienced and accomplished policy leaders in international ocean transportation. On Capitol Hill, she worked to enact successful solutions to ocean transportation safety, security, economic, and environmental challenges. She has been nominated by two Presidents and confirmed by the United States Senate to the Federal Maritime Commission for four successive terms.
Dye is respected by her stakeholders, peers, and staff for her depth of knowledge concerning industry business practices and for her strong leadership ability. In addition, Dye has been an active mentor and sponsor of talented women and men in the public and private sectors during her career.
On the advice of a favorite law professor, Dye accepted a commission as a U. S. Coast Guard Lieutenant in 1979, which charted the course of her career. She served as a White House Military Social Aide during the Carter and Reagan Administrations and became the first woman to act as Senior White House Military Social Aide for the Coast Guard. In the mid-eighties, Dye was on the law faculty of the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
After leaving active duty, Dye continued her career in maritime policy. After serving as legislative counsel in the Maritime Administration, she accepted a maritime counsel’s position on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1995, Dye was named Staff Director of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
While on Capitol Hill, Dye established her reputation as a skilled negotiator and policy expert who can successfully work across party lines to accomplish objectives. Drawing on her familiarity with the International Maritime Organization, Dye handled implementation of international agreements and other matters involving international maritime law and safety. During her 15 years in senior positions on Capitol Hill, Dye’s leadership was crucial to enactment of major legislative solutions to economic, safety, security, and environmental crises, including:
• The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska;
• The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998, successfully deregulating international ocean shipping;
and
• The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, establishing a port and vessel security regime following the attacks of September 11, 2001.
While serving at the Commission, Dye has gained credibility as a strong supporter of free market solutions to commercial problems. She is in demand as a public speaker, and has spoken internationally regarding competition law and policy, port congestion, supply chain efficiency and the value of global trade.
Dye maintains an active interest in leadership training and employee engagement. She is often asked to speak on organizational leadership issues and related matters.
Dye is active in several nonprofit organizations, including the International Women’s Forum, the White House Military Social Aides Association, and the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association.
Dye is also a member of the European Maritime Law Organization and has acted as a Working Group Leader in Danish Maritime Forums in Copenhagen. In 2016, Dye was named Outstanding Woman of the Year in International Trade by Women in International Trade, Los Angeles, California. On August 3, 2018, Dye received the Women’s Leadership in Supply Chain award from the USC Marshall School of Business and Center for Global Supply Chain Management.