Maritime Security Expert Meets With Pardee Students
Daniel Gianfalla, a current member of the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee of the United States Department of Homeland Security, discussed maritime security issues with Pardee School students in Professor John D. Woodward, Jr.’s IR 516 Intelligence and Homeland Security class.
Gianfalla highlighted the increased importance of maritime security post-9/11, explaining how the duties of the U.S. Coast Guard for port security became high priority after 9/11 and how new security techniques with respect to cargo shipment have been adopted. These include, among other things, X-ray and radiological examinations of containers, cargo manifest transparency, and enhanced due diligence of shippers.
Gianfalla talked about the danger of piracy, a phenomenon that is not as rare as it seems and not confined to the Horn of Africa. He also highlighted notable developments in the maritime industry, such as automated ships and the vulnerability of cargo shipping to cyber-attacks.
Gianfalla began his career in the maritime sector after graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He has served in a variety of sea and shore based positions. He is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Master Mariner.
“The section on piracy was the highlight for me.” said John Morgan (Pardee ’19). “It is a concept that is constantly thrown around and treated as a novelty. But to hear the actual statistics and data behind it was intriguing, and it ought to be taken more seriously in the context of homeland security. We were fortunate to benefit from the insights of a true maritime security expert who has real passion for his subject.”