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 Commissioner Louis E. Sola
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**Confidential Assistant:** Anna D’Aprile







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**Phone:** 202-523-5712**Email:**ADaprile@fmc.gov



Biography


Commissioner Louis E. Sola was nominated by President Trump on November 15, 2018 to a term expiring on June 30, 2023. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on January 2, 2019 and he was sworn into office on January 23, 2019. Commissioner Sola was a 2018 candidate for Florida’s 24th Congressional District in his hometown of Miami, Florida.



Commissioner Sola was previously appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott to serve as a Commissioner on the Florida Board of Pilots Commissioners in 2015.  As a Commissioner of the Board of Pilots, Commissioner Sola was responsible for licensing and regulating harbor pilots and served on the Probable Cause Panel for Marine Accidents.



Between 2005 and 2018, Commissioner Sola was a licensed ship and mega yacht broker who served as Chief Executive Officer of Evermarine, and as an executive with prestigious yachting firms Northup and Johnson Yacht and Campers and Nicholsons (including winning the Cannes – Azimut Benetti Sales Award ).



Between 1998 and 2004, Commissioner Sola served as a consultant with Berkshire Capital and Arden and Price while raising his family in the Panama Canal Zone. During this time, he authored, *inter alia*, studies for the Inter-American Development Bank regarding the creation of a Central American Index fund though the region’s equity markets. Commissioner Sola also developed international finance strategies focusing on the maritime sector in Latin America (including ports, free trade zones and ship repairs) as well as management of greenfield projects.



Commissioner Sola served in the U.S. Army between 1986 and 1997 as a strategic debriefer and as a counter intelligence agent.  He served the U.S. Army’s Intelligence and Security Command in Munich, Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall by strategically debriefing refugees from Eastern Europe.  Subsequently, Commissioner Sola served the U.S. Army’s Southern Command as a Spanish linguist involved with counter intelligence activities in Panama during the War on Drugs in the 1990’s. Mr. Sola earned the US Army Parachutist Badge (Airborne) and was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for his efforts during the Cuban Refugee Crisis. He has also received the National Defense Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Commendation Medal and has received the Army Achievement Award three times.  He is a two-time graduate of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Presidio of Monterey, CA (Spanish, German).



Commissioner Sola earned his A.A. in history from Parkland College; a B.S. in Management from the Nova Southeastern University and a M.S in international finance from the University of Illinois, and served as an adjunct professor at Florida State University between 1999 and 2001 where he taught classes in small business, finance and entrepreneurship.  He is an avid fan of Miami Marlins baseball and has two children, Carolyn and Anthony Sola.



Special Programs


Fact Finding 30


Fact Finding Investigation 30



Fact Finding 30 Order of Investigation [PDF, 21 KB]






Cruise Refunds or Complaints


If you would like assistance with a cruise problem please contact: complaints@fmc.gov



Recent News


August 6, 2024

Commissioner Louis E. Sola Visits Panama City, Panama to Examine Canal Drought Conditions

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioner Louis E. Sola has returned from a week-long visit to Panama with Chairman Daniel B. Maffei, where they learned how ongoing drought conditions impact the Panama Canal. The visit emphasized...

Categories:Louis E. SolaJuly 29, 2024

FMC Chairman Maffei and Commissioner Sola Examining Impacts from Reduced Capacity of Panama Canal

Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel B. Maffei and Commissioner Louis E. Sola are co-leading an FMC delegation to Panama this week examining the consequences of an extended drought on Panama Canal operations and how those...

Categories:Daniel B. Maffei,Louis E. SolaJune 28, 2024

Commissioner Sola Honored by Miami-Dade County

Commissioner Louis E. Sola was honored by Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners in recognition of his lifelong commitment to public service, his strong leadership in promoting policies benefitting a vibrant maritime economy, and his commitment...

Categories:Louis E. SolaJune 13, 2024

Commissioner Sola Discusses Alternative Marine Fuels During Panama Conference

Commissioner Louis E. Sola delivered a speech at Maritime Week Americas addressing “Alternative Marine Fuels: Regulation, Cooperation, and Funding”. The Commissioner highlighted the need for non-traditional fuels, such as liquified natural gas and biofuels, to...

Categories:Louis E. SolaMay 20, 2024

Letter of Commissioner Sola to Secretary Granholm

Federal Maritime Commissioner Louis E. Sola wrote Secretary Granholm on April 26, 2024, regarding the Maritime Decarbonization Plan. Text of the letter: Dear Secretary Granholm: Thank you for your leadership and partnership in developing a...

Categories:Louis E. Sola



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Upcoming Commissioner Appearances


Commissioner Sola Speaking at LNG Event in Panama

October 18, 2024 | Panama City, Panama | Commissioner Louis Sola will deliver remarks at the 4th International GNL Global Forum, an event focused on liquified natural gas projects and bunkering in Latin America and...Read more


Past Commissioner Appearances


Commissioner Sola Speaking at Maritime Week Americas

May 22, 2024 | Panama City, Panama Commissioner Louis Sola will discuss “Alternative Fuels: Regulation, Cooperation, and Funding” as part of the “Decarbonisation” session being held during the Maritime Week Americas conference.  More information on...Read moreCommissioner Sola Speaking at SeaTrade Cruise Global

April 9, 2024 | Miami Beach, FL Commissioner Louis Sola will discuss shore power issues as part of a panel being held at the SeaTrade Cruise Global conference taking place April 8-11, 2024. Information about the event...Read moreCommissioner Sola Speaking at Manifest Vegas 2024

February 5, 2024 | Las Vegas, NV Commissioner Louis Sola participate on the “Decarbonizing the Maritime Industry” panel at the Manifest Vegas 2024 supply chain symposium. Agenda and registration information is available on the organizer’s website.Read moreCommissioner Sola Speaking at AAPA Expo

January 24, 2024 | Tampa, FL | Commissioner Louis Sola will participate in a panel discussion exploring the topic of “LNG Export—How American Can Power the World” as part of the American Association of Port...Read more



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