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Christopher O. Ward

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Christopher Owen Ward
Executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
In office
May 1, 2008 – November 1, 2011
Nominated byDavid Paterson
GovernorDavid Paterson
Andrew Cuomo
Jon S. Corzine
Chris Christie
Preceded byAnthony Shorris
Succeeded byPatrick J. Foye
Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection
In office
January 1, 2002 – January 1, 2005
Appointed byMichael Bloomberg
Preceded byJoel Miele
Succeeded byEmily Lloyd
Personal details
Born (1954-10-11) October 11, 1954 (age 70)
Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Parent(s)Barbara Carnes
John William Ward
RelativesDavid C. Ward
EducationMacalester College (B.A.)
Harvard Divinity School (M.T.S.)

Christopher Owen Ward (born 1954) is an American civil servant who served as executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from May 1, 2008, until November 1, 2011, and as New York City Department of Environmental Protection commissioner from 2002 to 2005.

Early life

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Ward was born in Princeton, New Jersey, on October 11, 1954, the son of Barbara Carnes and John William Ward. His father was chair of the Special Program in American Civilization at Princeton University, and later served as president of Amherst College 1971–1979, making it co-educational. His father also ran the Ward Commission to investigate political corruption in construction contracts in Massachusetts. He was appointed by Michael Dukakis.[1]

Ward attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. He worked on an oil rig, for Pennzoil, in the Gulf of Mexico, as a mechanic, before attending Harvard Divinity School, where he received a Master of Theological Studies.[2][3] Ward's elder brother is David C. Ward. He is married to Pamela Cook. They have two children, Katherine and John.

New York City official

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During the Ed Koch administration, Ward worked at the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs as director of research from 1982 to 1988. From 1988 to 1992, he was an assistant commissioner for the New York City Department of Telecommunications and Energy. As part of the administration of David Dinkins, the first African American mayor of NYC, Ward worked on the city's negotiations with Con Edison and Hydro-Quebec regarding the expansion of the hydropower system in Northern Canada. Continuing his service to Mayor Dinkins, he worked as senior vice president for transportation and commerce at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) from 1992 to 1995.[4] During his tenure at the NYCEDC, Ward worked on acquiring the Staten Island Railroad to re-establish rail freight service to the Howland Hook Marine Terminal. This acquisition was secured with funding obtained by Congresswoman Susan Molinari, "this means that there will be an alternative to New Jersey that will bring about enhanced competition and will also allow the regional port to grow".[5][6]

Ward served as the commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, appointed by Michael Bloomberg, from 2002 to 2005.[4] As commissioner, he worked on the Long Island Sound Nitrogen Reduction Program, federal approval of the Filtration Avoidance Agreement for the Protection and Water Quality of the Upstate Reservoir System, and the funding and completion of the Manhattan segment of the third water tunnel.[7][8][9]

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

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From 1997 to 2002, he was chief external affairs and director of port development for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, under Executive Directors Robert E. Boyle and Neil Levin.[10] Ward oversaw the development of the comprehensive port development plan and the 50 foot channeling project throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey.[11] In addition, Ward also oversaw the approval of the longstanding Airtrain to JFK Airport.[12][11] Ward is a survivor of the 9/11 attack.[13]

After David Paterson assumed the governorship he recommended Ward to become executive director of the Port Authority. Ward was appointed to the position on May 1, 2008.[14] Ward served under both Governor David Paterson and Governor Andrew Cuomo.[3] He resigned from the job in November 2011. He was followed by Cuomo appointee, Pat Foye.[15][12]

While executive director of the Port Authority Ward was charged with overseeing the planned expansion of Pennsylvania Station to the James Farley Post Office, known as the Moynihan Train Hall.[16] In July 2008 Ward announced that construction at the World Trade Center site would run longer and cost significantly more than previously promised.[17] A new, more accurate timetable was delivered, and the 9/11 Memorial was ready for the 10th anniversary.[18][2] Ward was responsible for the initiation and the renovation of LaGuardia Airport, as well as, the replacement of Delta Air Lines terminal 3 at JFK, and finally the long-term lease commitment by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) at Elizabeth Marine Terminal.[19] Ward advocated for Access to the Region's Core, in order to expand mass transit capacity across New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie nixed the project, delaying the opportunity to build a new tunnel across the Hudson River.[20]

Private sector

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Ward worked in the private sector as director of Business Development of American Stevedoring, a shipping company based in Red Hook, Brooklyn, from 1996 to 1997.[10] Ward returned to the private sector, as CEO of American Stevedoring, from 2005 to 2006. Ward then moved on to work as the managing director of the General Contractors Association of New York, Inc. (GCA).[3]

Ward's work, since leaving the PANYNJ and re-entering the private sector, has been focused on expanding MWBE (Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises Program) business, and continuing to improve New York City environmental infrastructure, "the city is bedeviled by intracity truck trips".[21][22]

Ward served as Chair of the Waterfront Alliance from 2016-2024.[23] In the role of chairman of the Waterfront Alliance, Ward advocated for a more accessible New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary as well as a long term resilience strategy in the face of climate change.[24] Ward is on the board of Four Freedoms Park.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "About John William Ward".
  2. ^ a b Cardwell, Diane (July 7, 2008). "Port Authority, Often Tangled, Gets an Infusion of Philosophy". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Rubinstein, Dana (August 2011). "The problem with Port Authority boss Chris Ward is that he doesn't owe Andrew Cuomo a thing". Politico PRO.
  4. ^ a b "Governor Paterson Recommends Christopher Ward to Become Port Authority Executive Director". Office of New York Governor David Paterson. May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  5. ^ Levy, Clifford J. (September 27, 1994). "New York Looks to S. I. Site to Revive Port (Published 1994)". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Case study: Staten Island railroad" (PDF). www.envisionfreight.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  7. ^ Grann, David. "City of Water". The New Yorker.
  8. ^ "City to Burrow New $1 Billion Filtration Plant". Observer. March 31, 2003. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "New Schoharie Bridge Officially Opened On Route 990V In Gilboa, NY". www1.nyc.gov.
  10. ^ a b "Robert Boyle Resigns As NY/NJ Port Authority Chief". www.joc.com.
  11. ^ a b Doig, Jameson (2001). Empire on the Hudson. Columbia University Press.
  12. ^ a b "Chris Ward Gets the Call". The New York Observer. May 6, 2008.
  13. ^ Plotch, Philip M. and Jen Nelles, Mobilizing the Metropolis: How the Port Authority Built New York (University of Michigan Press, 2023)
  14. ^ "Leadership". Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  15. ^ Margolin, Josh (May 27, 2011). "Ward 'cleaver': Andy set to ax PA boss".
  16. ^ "Moynihan Station and the Complexity of Major Public Projects | The New School - YouTube". www.youtube.com. November 24, 2010. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "One World Trade Center: The Top of America". Time. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "9/11 Museum Could Be Ready Before 10th Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks". January 29, 2011.
  19. ^ "The Port Authority: Chris Ward on the World Trade Center and Moynihan Station". Observer. October 11, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "Christie Endorses Tunnel Four Years After Killing Project". Bloomberg.com. January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "Chris Ward: NYC Truck Traffic "an Economic and Environmental Crisis"". Streetsblog New York City. October 13, 2011. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017.
  22. ^ "Ex-Port Authority chief joins construction firm to focus on MWBEs". Crain's New York Business. June 4, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "Waterfront Alliance announces new chair of the board of trustees" (PDF). waterfrontalliance.org. April 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "Our Team | Waterfront Alliance".
  25. ^ "The Conservancy". Four Freedoms Park Conservancy.
[edit]
Preceded by Commissioner
of the Department of Environmental Protection
January 2002 – 2005 		Succeeded by
Emily Lloyd
Preceded by Executive director
of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
May 2008 – 2011 		Succeeded by
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