Craig Tornga has been named the new director for the Alaska Marine Highway System. His first day will be April 3.
Tornga has experience both in the marine industry and in managing multifaceted organizations. He started his maritime career sailing aboard Crowley’s ocean going vessels, and spent over 20 years working his way up through the Crowley’s Marine Services Division.
Tornga began his career with Crowley in 1977 as an ordinary seaman in Seattle. Over the years he held supervisory and managerial roles for the company in marine dispatch and customer service. In 1994, he was promoted to director of contract services, and in 1996 he was assigned to Anchorage, where he was general manager of oil industry services. He later went on to manage the company’s petroleum distribution, Valdez marine services, and North Slope energy support operations. In 2011, Tornga was tapped to lead Crowley’s new marine solutions group in Houston.
He was named vice president of stakeholder relations for Alaska and he relocated to Anchorage, where he report to Rocky Smith, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum distribution and marine services. Tornga is a past recipient of the Thomas Crowley Award, the company’s highest honor.
Since 2017, Tornga has served as the senior vice president for Kirby Offshore Marine in Houston, Texas.
“Craig is going to do a great job leading the AMHS team,” said DOT Commissioner Ryan Anderson. “His experience, first as a mariner, then in managing complex marine operations, will be invaluable to the Marine Highway operations and staff.”
“Mr. Tornga’s decades of experience and knowledge in the unique marine industry here in Alaska and Houston span every element needed for the successful management of a complex Alaskan owned and operated Marine Highway,” said Shirley Marquardt, Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board chair. “We have confidence that Craig will rise to the challenge and gain the support of our great employees who love the system.”
Per statute, DOT&PF conferred with AMHOB before offering Tornga the position. The board reviewed his credentials in executive session on March 13, and subsequently unanimously supported his candidacy at the public meeting on the same day.
The marine director position, formerly known as the AMHS general manager, has been vacant after the retirement of Captain John Falvey in January.
