Port of Charleston Leadership Recognized with ReadyCommunities Partnership National Service Award for Innovation through Partnerships for Resiliency

WASHINGTON - Dec. 20, 2018 - PRLog -- This week, Port of Charleston's leadership is recognized for "Innovation through partnerships for strategic military base and port community resiliency" with a 2018 ReadyCommunities Partnership National Service Award delivered to SC State Ports Authority President and CEO James I. Newsome, III.  With the port at the heart of the Charleston community, this award recognizes its leadership for cross-sector collaboration and engagement in innovative initiatives including critical infrastructure development.

Development of the Charleston port community based on innovation through partnerships is exemplified through the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (http://www.scspa.com); the new Leatherman terminal; and long-term collaboration with Carnival Cruise Lines.

RCP National Director, Dr. Rosalie J. Wyatt, said, "Under the leadership of Jim Newsome, this service award acknowledges the power of cross-sector collaboration in the pursuit and implementation of innovative strategies for strengthening the strategic port community's capacity, security, and economic and environmental well-being."

The RCP National Service and Sacrifice Awards honor individuals and organizations for extraordinary service or the ultimate sacrifice with prior presentations at the Port of Long Beach (2014, remarks by US Coast Guard Cdr. James Jenkins); Port of New Orleans (2013, remarks by LTG Russel L. Honore', US Army (ret.)); and at the National Congress for Secure Communities on Capitol Hil (2007).

Since 2006, ReadyCommunities Partnership has convened symposiums and initiated pilot projects with Charleston, SC-based participant leaders, who as exemplars of collaboration and expertise helped to further develop the science of maritime community and national resiliency.   Leadership from many organizations participated in the activities listed below including the USCG, Maritime Association of SC, SCSPA, Charleston Police and Fire Departments, American Red Cross, Charleston County Emergency Management, Medical University of SC, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Charleston Branch Pilots, and Project SeaHawk:

·         Military Base and Port Community Resiliency Initiative Symposium (2010, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC) with remarks by Sen. Mary Landrieu;

·         Charleston Advisory Committee Roundtable on Inter-Port Communications (2010, 82 Queen);

·         Discussion on Virtual Maritime Community Fusion (2007, Harbour Club);

·         Roundtable on Virtual Community Fusion (2007, Citadel);

·         Pilot Meeting for Cross-Sector Secure Portal Communications (2007,  MUSC);

·         National Congress for Secure Communities, (2007, Washington, DC) with keynote remarks by DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff;

·         National Blueprint for Secure Communities Symposium (2006, Gaillard) with remarks by Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

The ReadyCommunities Partnership (http://www.readycommunities.org) is a project of the Corporate Crisis Response Officers Association and the Community Institute for Preparedness, Response and Recovery and continues the work of the Gilmore Commission by engaging public, private and community sector stakeholders to reinforce if not augment the local response capacity in the first 72 hours of a large-scale or national crisis.