USMX

F. Paul De Maria Named CEO and Chairman of United States Maritime Alliance (USMX)

After Serving as Lead Negotiator During Recent Master Contract Negotiations, De Maria is Elevated from Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer to Lead the Organization as it Implements a New Historic Agreement with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)

LYNDHURST, NJ – On April 17th, 2025, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) Board of Directors announced it has selected F. Paul De Maria to be CEO and Chairman of USMX. De Maria served as the organization’s chief negotiator in the latest Master Contract negotiations between USMX and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), helping secure a landmark new agreement that protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create additional jobs while modernizing East and Gulf Coast ports.

“It’s an honor to lead this organization as we work together with the ILA to ensure we have the strong and efficient supply chains necessary to ensure American companies can access the global marketplace,” said F. Paul De Maria, CEO and Chairman of USMX. “Our focus will be on working day-in and day-out to make sure we are successfully implementing our agreement that prioritizes creating modern and safe working conditions across the industry while supporting Longshore jobs.”

Over a nearly three-decade career in the maritime industry, De Maria brings a unique knowledge of the maritime sector – skills that earlier this year he leveraged to successfully avoid a potential second strike and secure a new six-year Master Contract that received unanimous support from USMX membership.

Since the signing of the new Master Contract De Maria has focused on structuring USMX to best support the immediate needs of implementing the new agreement as well as meet and respond to the evolving demands of the industry.

“There was a lot of uncertainty as to how we would align around a shared path forward that ensures our industry continues to grow and thrive," said De Maria. "Now it is time to apply what we've learned through this challenge to strengthen our organization, ensuring we are equipped to oversee our current agreement and fully prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow."

De Maria replaces David F. Adam, who earlier this year retired from USMX after having served as its Chief Operating Officer from 2011-13, and CEO and Chairman from 2013 until his retirement on April 1, 2025.

De Maria joined USMX in 2012 as Vice President of Labor Relations and was later promoted in 2021 to the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining USMX, he was Senior General Manager at Ports America, where he oversaw the organization’s stevedoring operations from Maine to Texas. De Maria is a graduate of SUNY Maritime, Fort Schuyler, with his USCG Third Mates license, a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, and a minor in International Business.