Many ports are part of a port authority that may also manage the airport and may be a public entity. Governmental port authorities are usually headed by political appointees, which help these authorities negotiate difficult political waters. Of the 28,000 people nationally who work in port management, about one-third work for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages three airports and the World Trade Center in addition to the seaport.
According to the American Association of Port Authorities the average U.S. port director's salary is $79,518, with a range of $42,283 to $170,000. The average age of a port director is 50, and the average tenure is 5 years.
The major passenger shipping ports usually have a marketing department responsible for attracting cruise lines to the port. Other types of port positions and average salaries are:
- Deputy Port Director, $65,448
- Executive Assistant, $39,232
- General Counsel, $49,795
- Director of Administration, $55,693
- Director of Finance, $50,000
- Manager of Computer Services, $46,833
- Port Engineer, $59,620
- Director of Environmental Affairs, $51,716
- Director of Government Relations, $53,693
- Director of Personnel, $43,130
- Risk Manager, $40,456
- Director of Planning, $52,183
- Director of Research, $50,543
- Director of Operations, $53,863
- Chief of Security, $41,912
- Harbor Master, $39,928
- Traffic Manager, $45,819
- Trade Promotion Coordinator, $51,825
- Director of Trade Development, $56,207
- Manager of Inter-model Services, $51,769
Safety and Security Safety Minded Professionals
Every airline has a safety director, typically someone who has come up through engineering. A flight safety analyst reporting to the director of flight safety for one international carrier, for example, was responsible for identifying problems that could interfere with safe cockpit operations, analyzing flight accident/incident data and writing reports for management to use in preventing accidents/incidents, and investigating and reporting on serious incidents; this safety analyst earned $33,500.
Safety-minded professionals are also employed by the National Transportation Safety Board, a federal agency. It has 315 employees, most of whom are accident investigators, clericals, computer professionals, and management people. Civil service jobs are posted by the office of Personnel Management, Washing-ton, D.C.
Increased Concern with Security
Since the 1970s, when airlines became a popular target for hijackers and terrorists, the FAA and the aviation industry, in particular, have become concerned with security issues. Every airline now has a security department. American Airlines, for example, has a department of 40 people who handle 500 to 600 investigations each month. They are involved with international terrorism, fraud such as stolen tickets and credit card fraud, and drug trafficking.
Security departments are usually filled with retired law enforcement officers as well as attorneys because they are familiar with federal and local laws. Occasionally, airline ticket agents can shift over to security, due to their expertise in ticketing.
Homer Boynton, managing director of security for American Airlines, said he regards himself as a "businessman rather than a travel professional." Nonetheless, "the airline industry itself is fascinating." Indeed, the department is flooded with 10 to 15 resumes a week.
A host of consultancies also have emerged. Many, such as Security International, Herndon, VA, and Secure Flight International, Washington, D.C., have been set up by former FAA officials. Security firms employ a spectrum of professionals including engineers, accountants, and lawyers.
Security International is involved in developing security systems for airports that screen passengers and baggage and control access to preserve a "sterile environment" within the airport. Techniques involve badge readers, closed-circuit televisions, computer systems, and architectural design and planning. Some other consultancies are involved in the international arena, setting up systems for airports abroad.
Maritime security also presents many opportunities with ship lines and ports. These professionals focus on the smuggling of contraband and narcotics (multimillion dollar fines levied by the government when drugs are discovered have put some shipping companies out of business). They have become increasingly concerned with terrorism. Cruise ships, which are actually small floating cities, also present most of the problems that occur on-shore, including burglaries, assaults, and rape.
Many cruise lines have small security departments and con-tract security companies at the ports of call. Every port has a security department, as well; the Port of Miami, for example, employs 55 people.
Part of the responsibility of a port's security department is to work with the many federal, state, and local agencies also concerned with law enforcement, including Customs, Immigration, border patrol, Agriculture, Health, FBI, Secret Service (since dignitaries and presidents regularly pass through ports), Coast Guard, and Marine patrol. Mock exercises are held to make sure that all the appropriate agencies work together as a team during a security crisis such as a terrorist attack.
Contacts and Sources
American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE),
4212 King St.
Alexandria VA 22302,
Telephone: 703-824-0500.
National Air Transportation Association (NATA), 4226 King St., Alexandria, VA 22302, tel. 703-845-9000; provides a membership directory (available to nonmembers for $45).
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Special Examining Division, AAC-80, P.O. Box 26650, Oklahoma City, OK 73126; provides applications for FAA inspectors and controllers jobs as does the Office of Personnel Management.
Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20415; posts civil service jobs relating to airport/aviation and port management.
American Association of Port Authorities,
1010 Duke St.
Alexandria, VA 22314, tel. 703-684-5700.
National Transportation Safety Board,
800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20594.
American Society for Industrial Security, 1655 North Ft. Myer Dr., Ste. 1200, Arlington, VA 22209, tel. 703-522-5800; represents 47,000 security professionals worldwide.
