The American Association of Port Authorities recently celebrated the long career of Jim Walker, AAPA’s Director of Navigation Policy and Legislation, as he retired from the workforce in June.
Walker was responsible for handling waterside infrastructure issues and relevant legislative and regulatory matters, including AAPA’s Quality Partnership Initiative (QPI) with the Army Corps of Engineers. He also served as staff liaison to the Harbors and Navigation Committee.
Following a 36-year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he joined AAPA in 2012. His responsibilities included the organization’s efforts to improve navigation policies, legislation and funding.
He was instrumental, according to AAPA, in forwarding Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) legislation and proper tax allocation, collaborating with national and regional navigation support organizations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding requests, which helped HMTF funding nearly triple from $800 million in 2013 to $2.32 billion in 2023.
“Jim’s work for AAPA is invaluable and he will be sorely missed,” the AAPA said in a statement. “Jim would like to thank Harbors and Navigation Committee members, dedicated Congressional staffers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leaders, AAPA staff and the AAPA Government Relations team, as he transitions into retirement.”