William (Bill) Paape
Associate Administrator for Ports & Waterways
Maritime Administration (MARAD)
U.S. Department of Transportation

William (Bill) Paape, a member of the Senior Executive Service, became the Associate Administrator for Ports & Waterways on June 7, 2020. In this capacity, Mr. Paape directs a national port infrastructure modernization program in excess of $2 billion. Discretionary grant port programs and other programs managed by Mr. Paape include: Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) (formerly BUILD), Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA), Port Infrastructure Development, America’s Marine Highways, Deepwater Port Licensing, and Port Conveyance.

Previously, Mr. Paape served as the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Ports & Waterways and the Director for the Office of Maritime & Intermodal Outreach. In this role, he managed the Agency’s 10 regional Gateway Offices and was responsible for supporting MARAD’s mission to improve and strengthen the US marine transportation system to meet the economic and security needs of the Nation. Prior to this he was the Inland Waterways Gateway Director for MARAD.

A native of Madison Wisconsin, Mr. Paape brings a diverse strategic surface transportation, intermodal logistics, and terminal operations background to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.  A career U.S. Army Reserve Officer, he has had several assignments in support of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, the US Army component of the US Transportation Command. Mr. Paape retired as a Colonel from the Army Reserve in 2012. 

Mr. Paape has a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, a master’s degree in International Relations from Troy State University, a master’s degree in Procurement and Acquisitions Management from Webster University, and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.