Hill Heat

Full committee hearing to consider the nominations of the Maritime Administration, the Federal Maritime Commission, and the Department of Commerce at 10:30 AM EST on October 22, 2025.

Nominees:

• Stephen Carmel, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration
• Laura DiBella, of Florida, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner
• Robert Harvey, of Florida, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner
• Timothy Petty, of Indiana, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA Fisheries)

Dr. Timothy R. Petty assumed his Senate-confirmed position as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science in January 2018. In this capacity, he oversees water and science policy for the U.S. Department of the Interior and has responsibility for the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey. His career has focused on water science, engineering, and water policy. Dr. Petty previously served as Deputy Legislative Director and Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator James E. Risch of Idaho, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Dr. Petty covered issues of water, natural resources, environment, science, technology, telecommunications and space. He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at Interior under President George W. Bush. Dr. Petty earned a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (College of Engineering and Mines in Water Science), an M.S. from the University of Maryland University College (Business Management), and a B.S. from Purdue University (Geosciences). Prior to his Senate service with Senator Risch, Dr. Petty worked for U.S. Senators Connie Mack of Florida and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. In addition, Dr. Petty worked in California and Indiana as a geologist and hydrogeologist.

Carmel is Senior Vice President, Maritime Services at Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) with full responsibility for MLL’s U.S. Marine Management Inc. business unit. He is is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He is a a member of the Board of Visitors of the US Merchant Marine Academy.

DiBella is a lobbyist at Adams & Reese. She was previously Florida’s first female Secretary of Commerce. Laura was the former President of Business Development at FloridaCommerce; President/CEO at Enterprise Florida; President of the Florida Opportunity Fund (Florida’s Venture Capital arm), gaining knowledge of the state funded startup ecosystem; Executive Director of Florida Harbor Pilots Association; Port Director of Port of Fernandina Ocean Highway and Port Authority; and Executive Director of Nassau County Economic Development Board. As the first-ever, full-time executive director of Florida Harbor Pilots Association, DiBella helped pass legislation that prevents citizen initiatives from interrupting commerce at Florida seaports.

Harvey serves as General Counsel for Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), Executive Director of Florida Opportunity Fund, Inc. (“FOF”), and the Executive Director of Florida Development Finance Corporation (“FDFC”). Previously, Robert was a founding partner of the law firm Jenks & Harvey LLP in West Palm Beach, specializing in securities litigation, arbitration, and regulation. In 1992, Robert joined startup Meridian VAT Reclaim North America in New York, NY. Meridian, now known as Meridian Global Services, is the worldwide leader in providing corporate international Value Added Tax compliance and consulting services. Mr. Harvey became Meridian North America’s Senior Vice President of Operations & General Counsel in 1996. Headquartered in Ireland, Meridian was acquired in 1999 by Profit Recovery Group International and is now privately held. After leaving Meridian in 1999, Mr. Harvey became Director of Operations for MBIA MuniServices Company, a subsidiary of MBIA, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Harvey later served as Chief Operating Officer of Imperial Software in Great River, New York. From 2003-2014 Mr. Harvey was the Managing General Partner of Kensington Capital Fund LP.