HOUSTON, April 14, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- William H. Crews, CPP, a veteran security professional who most recently served as Chief of Security at NASA's flight research facility in California, has joined the Port of Houston Authority as the Port Security & Emergency Operations Manager, a new position. Crews is responsible for directing and monitoring the PHA's security operations and programs, including meeting Coast Guard and other regulatory requirements as well as maintaining oversight of the Police Department.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://media.primezone.com/poha/
A Certified Protection Professional (CPP), an internationally recognized board certification in Security Management, Crews was a sworn federal law enforcement agent. He brings nearly 20 years of professional experience to the position and was formerly affiliated with NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. Crews served as a security executive for the Office of U.S. Trade Representative (part of the Executive Office of the President), U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Information Agency, the DEA and Naval Surface Warfare Center.
"We were looking for the best candidate to lead the new department of Port Security & Emergency Operations in today's environment," said Jimmy Jamison, PHA Director of Operations. "The complexities of port security have changed drastically since 9/11 and we wanted a professional with a broad resume and the skill sets necessary for security leadership. Bill has an expertise in all of the vital areas needed, including technology. We are proud of the job of our Port Police and security team. Bill will complement these strengths."
"I am honored to lead a team of security and law enforcement professionals in the protection of a vital conduit of commerce for Texas and the nation," said Crews. "The challenges facing the port are many and with the combined efforts of all the local, state and federal agencies, the mission of protecting the flow of commerce can continue."
The new name of the PHA's Port Police department, Port Security & Emergency Operations, better describes its purpose in a post-9/11 world.
Crews has a bachelor's degree in security management from American Military University in West Virginia and earned his certification as a protection professional from the American Society for Industrial Security International.
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 7,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
To access the port's web site photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.
The Port of Houston Authority logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=720
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
