Charles (Bud) Darr

Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs at MSC Group

Speaker

An experienced global maritime leader in the areas of policy, government, and related law, Bud Darr is Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs of MSC Group.

Having served in the US Navy, US Merchant Marine, and US Coast Guard, as well as being an accomplished ocean yacht racer, Bud’s longstanding connection with the sea and ships that sail upon it is both personal and professional.

Bud began his education with the US Navy in Submarine Nuclear Engineering and later furthered his formal education at the US Merchant Marine Academy, where he was trained as a Deck Officer and received his undergraduate degree. Later, during his service with the US Coast Guard, he studied law at the George Washington University Law School.

In 2010, he retired from his government career to join the Cruise Lines International Association, where as its Global Senior Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, he led the cruise industry’s efforts in a broad range of maritime subject areas, including countless international treaty negotiations, sector-wide policy development, and engagement with government bodies around the world.

He has conducted work in more than fifty countries throughout his career and consistently served in leadership roles for more than three decades.

Today, Bud is engaged across MSC’s divisions in applying his skills toward establishing and developing a central Government Affairs function, based at the Group’s headquarters in Geneva.

Bud was announced as Executive Vice President of Maritime Policy and Government Affairs of MSC Group in May 2017.

TIMELINE:

1965 born in United States

1983 joins US Navy

1993 graduates from US Merchant Marine Academy and joins US Coast Guard

2001 graduates from George Washington University Law School

2010 retires from US Coast Guard and joins Cruise Lines International Association

2017 joins MSC Group, as Executive Vice President of Maritime Policy and Government Affairs