2025 Port of the Future Conference

The Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute, a DHS Center of Research Excellence in Countering Human Trafficking, and the Center for Immigration Studies will host the 2024 Conference to Combat Human Trafficking: Research and Technology, from July 23-24, 2024, at the Harris County Department of Education Conference Center, located at 6300 Irvington Boulevard in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the conference is two-fold: 1.   To present new research and innovative techniques that may be used in efforts to halt human trafficking; and 2.   To identify areas for future research and to develop viable solutions through technologies and enhanced capabilities to counter human trafficking and smuggling. The conference is open to law enforcement, fire marshals, Health and Human Services, intelligence analysts, selected researchers, and members of Non-Government Agencies involved in combating human trafficking, and solution providers. All applicants will be vetted. The Conference is free. Seating is limited. Interested individuals must register prior to 1 July 2024, at: https://lnkd.in/gN9pZCTp Training. This year’s conference is followed by training in “Interdiction for the Protection of Children,” provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety. This training is designed to make front-line officers and investigators aware of the variety of resources available to assist them in establishing the status of a child who may be missing, exploited or at risk of exploitation and what courses of action are immediately available. Training is free. Register for training at: https://lnkd.in/gudPSjEy For questions, contact Kevin Clement, Executive Director Strategic Partnerships at the Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute at KClement@uh.edu | +1 512.626.5413

Jorge Duran, from the Inter American Committee on Ports, Organization of American States spoke on the topic of "Latin American and the Caribbean: Port Development Challenges" at the 2024 Port of the Future Conference.

RADM Wayne Arguin, Jr., Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG-5P), U.S. Coast Guard, provided a plenary address to the Port of the Future Conference covering the situation in the Red Sea Shipping Lanes.

Fritz Kuebler is the Director of Business Development for RPower, an energy solutions company located at The Woodlands, Texas. He is a retired Coast Guard Officer with an extensive background in port security, resilience, emergency management, and continuity of operations. Now, he has a passion for helping organizations harden their most critical assets, improving their bottom line, and furthering their ESG objectives all while strengthening our collective national security. The 2024 Port of the Future Conference will host representatives from over 50 ports worldwide. For the list of participating ports access https://lnkd.in/gsKZUcNW . This year’s event includes tracks on Port Infrastructure 4.0, Developing Ports; Intermodal Connectivity; Decarbonization and Alternate Fuels; Port Energy and Sustainability; Terminal Operations; Enhancing the Port Eco-System; Port Security and Cybersecurity; and other relevant topics. Register for the 2024 Port of the Future Conference at https://lnkd.in/g46u3_Hk #PortElectrification #onshorepower #zeroemissions #ports #future #portofthefuture #portoperations #shipping #maritime #scports #irprt #porthouston #texasports #maritimeindustry #portassociationoflousiana @ShipNews #VirginiaMaritimeAssociation @PortoftheFutureConference

Brooke Kennedy, Senior Manager, Deloitte, will speak on the “Making Automation Work…” at the 2024 Port of the Future Conference, to be held April 2-4, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Automation does not guarantee financial and operational success. Autonomy and autonomous technologies continue to disrupt established industries with opportunities to improve operational efficiency and safety. Looking at a 5- to 10-year time horizon, new and emerging autonomous technologies and accompanying regulation will continue to evolve, changing the port landscape as we know it today. Emerging technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), Vehicle and Equipment Automation, Drones, and Energy Technologies may all potentially be implemented and scaled in a port environment, requiring ports to proactively plan and adapt to technological and regulatory implications of implementing these new autonomous technologies. Three distinguishing factors identify ports and corporations that derive the greatest results from automation: they make automation a strategic priority, focus on people as much as technology, and develop an operating model that enables scaling. Brooke Kennedy is an emerging technology and innovation leader within Deloitte’s Government & Public Services (GPS) Consulting Practice. She has 9+ years of experience bringing innovative technology solutions to Federal clients across the Defense and National Security sector to address front-line operational and mission challenges. As the leader for Deloitte’s Technology Scouting Capability, Brooke helps clients understand today’s dynamic technology landscape as well as trends in Research and Development (R&D) that may impact future operations across fields including Artificial Intelligence and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Furthermore, she helps them identify and assess emerging technology solutions to meet mission needs across border security, port, and other critical national security ecosystems. The 2024 Port of the Future Conference will host representatives from over 50 ports worldwide. For the list of participating ports access https://lnkd.in/gAbTwB33 This year’s event includes tracks on Port Infrastructure 4.0, Developing Ports; Intermodal Connectivity; Decarbonization and Alternate Fuels; Port Energy and Sustainability; Terminal Operations; Enhancing the Port Eco-System; Port Security and Cybersecurity; and other relevant topics. Register for the 2024 Port of the Future Conference at https://lnkd.in/g46u3_Hk #autonomousnavigation #autonomy #autonomoustechnology #autonomous #autonomoussystems #gpa #ports #future #portofthefuture #portoperations #shipping #maritime #scports #irprt #porthouston #texasports #maritimeindustry #portassociationoflousiana @ShipNews #VirginiaMaritimeAssociation @PortoftheFutureConference

Lester Millet III, Safety Risk Agency Manager, Port South Louisiana, will speak on “Navigating a Changing Threat Environment: Building Resilience Through Emergency Preparedness: A Case Study” at the 2024 Port of the Future Conference, to be held April 2-4, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Ports sit at the heart of a dynamic risk landscape where both physical and cyber threats are quickly evolving. How can they better understand and mitigate the varied risks they face? How can they adapt in a limited resource environment? This session will take a holistic look at the current state of port security; how assessments and evaluative methodologies can help ports identify and mitigate risk; and how they can best prepare for, respond to, and recover from a crisis event. Hear from one of the largest ports in the country on how they approach risk management and their lessons learned. Millet is a nationally recognized subject matter expert in the field of Homeland Security, has held the positions of Policy & Planning Director and Safety Risk Agency Manager at the Port of South Louisiana for the past 18 years, serving as a public/private stakeholder liaison on issues pertaining to port security and emergency preparedness. Lester serves on a multitude of local, state and federal committees, most notably, nationally recognized InfraGard Louisiana (President) and LOMSEC (Louisiana Maritime Security Community) Chairman, and has received the following awards for his past efforts: Louisiana Technology Council Governor’s Award (2014), CAMO (Coastal & Marine Operators) Visionary Award (2014),Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association’s (LEPA) Dedication Award (2016), (2) USCG’s Meritorious Public Service Award, FBI Gulf Coast INLETS Award (2017), FBI N.O. / InfraGard Service Award (2019), Government Technology & Services Coalition HS Today Citizen of Mission Award (2020), & InfraGard National Public / Private Partnership Award (2023). Lester graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1985 with a BA degree in Management and has taken hundreds of hours of training in Homeland Security & Safety courses. Most notably, Lester is a certified LEPA (Louisiana Emergency Planning Association) Louisiana Emergency Manager and a certified FSO. The 2024 Port of the Future Conference will host representatives from over 50 ports worldwide. For the list of participating ports access https://lnkd.in/g6aCfTbB   Register for the 2024 Port of the Future Conference at https://lnkd.in/gN-zNqxc #risk #portsecurity #autonomousnavigation #gpa #ports #future #portofthefuture #portoperations #shipping #maritime #scports #irprt #porthouston #texasports #maritimeindustry #portassociationoflousiana @ShipNews #VirginiaMaritimeAssociation @PortoftheFutureConference  

Brian Cox, Chief Operating Officer for the Port of South Louisiana will participate in a panel discussion, “Navigating a Changing Threat Environment: Building Resilience Through Emergency Preparedness,” at the 2024 Port of the Future Conference. The Conference, hosted by the Borders, Trade and Immigration Institute at the University of Houston, will be held April 2-4, 2024, at the Hilton University Houston. Ports sit at the heart of a dynamic risk landscape where both physical and cyber threats are quickly evolving. How can they better understand and mitigate the varied risks they face? How can they adapt in a limited resource environment? This session will take a holistic look at the current state of port security; how assessments and evaluative methodologies can help ports identify and mitigate risk; and how they can best prepare for, respond to, and recover from a crisis event. Brian Cox is the Chief Operating Officer for the Port of South Louisiana. Brian has over twenty-five years of experience in the Maritime Industry. His day-to-day role includes overseeing Port Security, Marine Operations, Maintenance, Information Technology, Airport Operations, and Infrastructure Development, as well as multiple grant projects (MARAD, Port Priority, Port Security). Brian plays an integral role in the expansion efforts at the Globalplex facility as well as the surrounding industries in the Port’s 54-mile stretch of the Mississippi River. Brian complements the Executive team through his participation in all grant funding efforts, his knowledge and outlook for future growth needs, and aiding existing River Parish entities with guidance on the energy transition. Since Brian joined the PortSL team as COO, the Port of South Louisiana, the second-largest tonnage port in the Western Hemisphere, has seen an increase in revenue for the first time in almost 20 years. Brian attended Archbishop Rummel High School and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. He began his career as a dock worker with Coastal Cargo Company (a New Orleans-based stevedoring firm) in 1999. Before joining PortSL in 2017 he was the General Manager for Associated Terminals (a Convent, LA-based bulk and breakbulk stevedoring firm) and responsible for all facility operations. The 2024 Port of the Future Conference will host representatives from over 50 ports worldwide. For the list of participating ports access https://lnkd.in/g6aCfTbB   Register for the 2024 Port of the Future Conference at https://lnkd.in/gN-zNqxc #SupplyChainSecurity #PortSecurity #ThreatAssessment #riskassessment #risk #gpa #ports #future #portofthefuture #portoperations #shipping #maritime #scports #irprt #porthouston #texasports #maritimeindustry #portassociationoflousiana @ShipNews #VirginiaMaritimeAssociation @PortoftheFutureConference

Rob Tagg, Principal Naval Architect at Herbert Engineering, will speak on the “ABS Study – Nuclear Power in Maritime Operations,” at the 2024 Port of the Future Conference, to be held April 2-4, 2024, in Houston, Texas. ABS is playing a pioneering role in supporting the development of nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded ABS a contract to support the acceleration of commercial maritime demonstration projects using advanced nuclear reactor technologies. This work includes understanding the barriers to the adoption of advanced nuclear technology for maritime applications. In addition to the DOE award, ABS commissioned Herbert Engineering Corporation (HEC) to explore the potential of advanced modern reactor technology for commercial marine propulsion. The Herbert study is designed to help the industry better understand the feasibility and safety implications of nuclear propulsion and to support future developmental projects. Rob Tagg has a bachelors in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan and has over 45 years of experience designing commercial cargo ships. Recent collaborations with the American Bureau of Shipping have included conceptual ship designs for a variety of future low-carbon ships, including several nuclear-powered cargo ships. Except for 3-years as a Research Fellow at the University of Strathclyde’s Ship Stability Research Centre, Rob has spent his entire career at Herbert Engineering, serving in all positions from junior engineer through Chairman. He is a Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), a member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA). He has extensive experience at IMO over the past 25 years and is currently a member of the RINA delegation to IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee. The 2024 Port of the Future Conference will host representatives from over 50 ports worldwide. For the list of participating ports access https://lnkd.in/g6aCfTbB This year’s event includes tracks on Port Infrastructure 4.0, Developing Ports; Intermodal Connectivity; Decarbonization and Alternate Fuels; Port Energy and Sustainability; Terminal Operations; Enhancing the Port Eco-System; Port Security and Cybersecurity; and other relevant topics. Register for the 2024 Port of the Future Conference at https://lnkd.in/gN-zNqxc #Nuclearpropulsion #Nuclearvessels #alternativefuels #zeroemissions #gpa #ports #future #portofthefuture #portoperations #shipping #maritime #scports #irprt #porthouston #texasports #maritimeindustry #portassociationoflousiana @ShipNews #VirginiaMaritimeAssociation @PortoftheFutureConference