Capt. George Capacci has been named Deputy Chief of Operations and Construction with the Ferries Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

He will oversee operations, terminal engineering, and vessel maintenance, preservation and engineering. He will start on Aug. 16 and report to Assistant Secretary David Moseley.

Capt. Capacci served 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and more recently was vice president of Fleet Operations for B.C. Ferries and general manager for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Since 2009, he has been the Washington State Ferries Division North Region port captain. He has a Masters of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

“Capt. Capacci is a respected veteran of the marine industry,” said Moseley. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position of Deputy Chief of Operations and Construction following his years in the U.S. Coast Guard and leading ferry operations in both B.C., Canada and as head of the Alaska Marine Highway. His extensive background will assist me to ensure that our operations and engineering departments are functioning in the most cost-effective and efficient manner.”

This position, vacant since 2008, serves on the division management team and provides strategic leadership to ensure safe, cost-effective, customer-oriented, reliable and efficient transportation of nearly 23 million passengers annually; a safe and cost-effective working environment for Ferries Division employees; strict fiscal accountability for the Ferries Division; and management of employee labor contracts.