LONG BEACH, Calif. – Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, visited the Port of Long Beach Jan. 15 to discuss interagency relationships and coordination with the port and the city.
Bostick met with Rep. Alan Lowenthal, Robert Garcia, the mayor of Long Beach Mayor, Doug Drummond, the president of the Board of Harbor Commissioners and Doug Thiessen, managing director for engineering at the port, and other elected and appointed officials to address issues related to navigational maintenance in the port and to continue building upon the relationships that exist among the agencies.
Bostick discussed the impact the Port of Long Beach and its neighboring Port of Los Angeles have on the nation’s economic vitality and how local leadership has been instrumental in meeting current demands and preparing for the future.
Los Angeles District Commander Col. Kimberly Colloton echoed Bostick’s remarks about the ports’ collective value to the nation and how modernization efforts, such as the new automated facilities at Long Beach, continue to ensure they remain at the forefront of the maritime industry.
“Our federal, state and local partnerships are strong,” Colloton said, “We are able to come together in very beneficial ways, focus resources on problems, some of which, like regulatory permits, have significant complexity, and develop solutions. “
Following the meeting, Coast Guard Sector Commander Capt. Jennifer Williams hosted Bostick, South Pacific Division Commander Brig. Gen. Mark Toy and Colloton for a waterborne inspection of repairs to the ports’ middle breakwater, which was damaged last summer by wave action from Hurricane Marie, and discussions of other areas of mutual responsibility and cooperation.