Monday, August 01st, 2005 - 7:30PM The Home of Laura Rister
Hollywood, California
Prior to his current appointment, Cunningham served jointly as director of operations and chief of the Los Angeles Port Police - a position he held for 13 years since joining the Port in January 1991. In December 2003, the position of director of operations was elevated to one of the nine directors serving as the senior management team for the Port. In his current role, Cunningham manages the Port Police, Port Pilots, Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security divisions.
The Los Angeles Port Police is the only U.S. police force dedicated exclusively to port activities, while enforcing all federal, state and local laws applicable to Port responsibilities, including cargo protection, pollution investigation, vessel traffic control and narcotics interdiction. The Pilot Services Division makes approximately 5,500 vessel moves a year with a stellar safety record second to none in the maritime industry. The Emergency Preparedness Division is specifically dedicated to the coordination and management of disaster preparedness; in February 2004, the Homeland Security Division was created to administer federal and regional grant/security programs, assess threats and vulnerabilities, while coordinating response actions. Before joining the Port, Cunningham served as an area captain with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), where he completed 25 years of service. Cunningham is the only twice-honored recipient of the Professional Image Award, LAPD’s highest management award. Cunningham is one of the organizers of the Sea Marshal Program, a joint effort between the Port of Los Angeles and U.S. Coast Guard that provides armed officers to protect and secure cruise passengers and high risk cargo by boarding incoming vessels. He also developed the first U.S. cruise ship passenger security plan, which has since been adopted as a national model by both the U.S. Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization.
While carrying out his Port responsibilities, Cunningham also serves as director of the federally legislated, post-9/11 Operation Safe Commerce program. Cunningham is considered one of the nation's foremost experts in seaport security and has presented testimony at congressional hearings and numerous federal and state legislative committees. A past president of the International Association of Airport and Seaport Police, he currently serves as co-chair of the City of the Los Angeles/Long Beach panel on seaport security and panel member on the National Academy of Science Washington D.C. Subcommittee. He has also served as chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities’ Security Committee and State of California Harbor Safety Committee. Internationally, Cunningham has participated in the Organization of American States Security Panel and U.S. Council on Foreign Relations in the development of improved security practices for ports in South and Central America and the Caribbean.