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AAPA promotes and hires for its government relations team

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Derek Miller, left, was promoted and Ian Gansler, right took on Miller's former job
The American Association of Port Authorities promoted government relations staffer Derek Miller to government relations manager and hired Ian Gansler as government relations associate.

Miller's promotion will allow him to expand his legislative and regulatory portfolio and further support the legislative priorities of AAPA's US membership.

In his new role, he will spearhead advocacy efforts on issues involving security, eliminating human trafficking, US Customs and Border Protection, workforce development and offshore wind. He also will continue his work as staff liaison for the AAPA Security Committee.

Earned his stripes

Miller, who joined AAPA in September 2020, quickly earned his stripes during the 116th Congress lame duck session that saw big wins for the port industry in federal appropriations, harbor maintenance funding and pandemic emergency relief.

Ian Gansler

To fill Miller's former role, Gansler joined from the Washington, DC lobbying firm of O'Neill and Associates where he worked for AAPA member Massachusetts Port Authority on maritime federal policy issues. His portfolio also included transportation industry clients such as a high-speed rail advocacy group, American Airlines' flight attendants’ union and Jay Cashman, Inc. on federal dredging and offshore wind policy.

Before O'Neill and Associates, Gansler worked for End Citizens United and interned with his hometown congressman, House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, both in Washington and in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Energy, aptitude and credibility

'I am proud of the accomplishments that the AAPA government relations team has made over the past several years and am delighted to continue the forward momentum with the announcement of these staffing changes,' AAPA President and CEO Christopher Conner said. 'The energy, aptitude and credibility that both Mr. Miller and Mr. Gansler respectively bring is an asset to our organization. With our lobbying efforts, AAPA is positioned to continue to serve port interests in achieving critical policy goals such as investment in our nation’s infrastructure which is currently being discussed by the White House and Congress.'