NW Seaports Seek Veterans for Security Jobs

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma are working together with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to help veterans access opportunities for security-related jobs.

The targeted positions include K-9 police teams, divers, bomb disposal experts, marine patrol personnel and container terminal security – skilled functions that are well-suited to the capabilities of military servicemembers and veterans. The ports call their outreach program "Guardians of the Gateway," and they are offering a workshop with employers' representatives to give applicants a better idea of the available career options.

Veterans seeking employment with U.S. Customs and Border Protection are eligible for a number of advantages, including access to the federal hiring preference program and a fast-track recruitment process. In addition, by continuing their employment with the federal government, veterans joining CBP may also be eligible to count their time in the military towards CBP retirement, and may be able to secure a GI Bill housing allowance for on-the-job training. 

Port of Seattle Commissioners pursue renewable power and sustainability

This week, the commissioners of the Port of Seattle passed a motion to further the port's commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including a new solar array currently being installed at Fishermen’s Terminal and a larger project to add solar panels to the roof of the authority's Pier 69 office building (left).

“In addition to reducing the Port’s carbon emissions . . . these projects demonstrate how the Port can lead efforts to reduce the increasingly obvious impacts of climate change on the environment and our quality of life,” said Commissioner Fred Felleman, who co-chairs the Port’s Energy and Sustainability Committee with Commissioner Courtney Gregoire.

"Today's action reinforces the Port of Seattle's commitment to sustainable economic growth and should encourage expanded innovation in green technology.  From biofuels at Sea-Tac Airport to solar panels at Fishermen's Terminal, we look forward to strengthening partnerships to make our region a market leader in the green economy,” Commissioner Gregoire added.  

The new motion calls for four pilot projects, divided between the Port's airport and maritime businesses. The solar project at Pier 69 would be selected as the first pilot project. It also calls for sufficient resources to track greenhouse gas reduction and implement sustainable design principles, and would expand the carbon reduction emission goal in the Port’s Century Agenda to include indirect emissions. 

The port authority's goal is for port-controlled and indirect emissions to be carbon neutral or carbon negative by 2050. “The Port knows that a more prosperous future is also a cleaner, more sustainable one,” said Vlad Gutman-Britten, Washington Director of Climate Solutions. “These policies put the Port of Seattle on a path towards environmental leadership that reflects the values of this region.”