CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Safe Ports Holdings, an expert global solutions provider in logistics and other mission-critical functions for government agencies, NGOs and commercial enterprises, today named Major General Kenneth C. Dowd, U.S. Army retired; and Vice Admiral Michael T. Franken, U.S. Navy retired, to the company’s Board of Advisors. 

The announcement was made by Lucy Duncan, CEO, Safe Ports Holdings; and General John M. (Jack) Keane, U.S. Army retired, and chairman, Safe Ports Board of Advisers, as the company’s premier initiative – Safe Ports Regional Gateway located in the Kingdom of Jordan – continues to gain momentum.  Launched in November 2017, the project is being developed in partnership with Mafraq Development Corporation and the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

An experienced leader and communicator with outstanding people skills and team-building capabilities, Dowd retired from the Army in 2014 at the rank of Major General. Since then, Dowd has served in the private sector as a leader in worldwide supply and logistical distribution operations.  From 2012 – 2014, Dowd was chief operating officer at the Defense Logistics Agency, where he operated a $44B enterprise and developed strategies for inventory, transportation and retrograde of key wholesale/retail supplies.  Previously, Dowd served as Commanding General of the 1^st Theater Sustainment for CENTCOM, as director of logistics for CENTCOM, and as director of logistics for the U.S. Pacific Command.

Franken, a surface warfare officer, retired from the Navy in 2017 at the rank of Vice Admiral.  His military postings include service as U.S. Africa Command’s deputy commander in Stuttgart, GE, the first director of a defense agency, chief of Navy’s legislative affairs, command of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HoA) in Djibouti, vice director of strategy, plans and policy (J5) at U.S. Central Command, command of a task group in the Persian Gulf, chief of staff of a numbered fleet, and command of a guided missile destroyer.  He is experienced in executing the 3D construct of diplomacy, development, and defense in multiple postings overseas and in numerous Washington, DC, offices.  He is the CEO of Chartwell Strategic Advisors, LLC, an Alexandria, VA, consulting firm.

In addition to Keane, Dowd and Franken, the members of the Safe Ports Board of Advisors are:

• Ty Cobb, former partner, Hogan Lovells;
• Michael Saunders, former partner, Booz Allen;
• Curt Weldon, former member, U.S. House of Representatives; and
• D. Sykes Wilford, Ph.D., W. Frank Hipp Distinguished Chair in Business, The Citadel.

About Safe Ports: Founded in 2005, Safe Ports Holdings is both a U.S. federal contractor (Safe Ports Federal Solutions) and a commercial business (Safe Ports Regional Gateway) based in Charleston, SC.   Under the leadership of CEO Lucy Duncan, Safe Ports excels in logistics, inland port development, port security; disaster relief training and preparedness, and geospatial/environmental services.  The company operates globally, with an emphasis on emerging markets or countries in transition. To learn more, visit www.safe-ports.com.

Contact Information:
James Boyle 
jim@boylepublicaffairs.com
571.213.3979

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