The Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee was selected by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in August 2012. The Committee is covered under the 1972 Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The membership, which includes both local stakeholders and representatives of national organizations, reflects a broad range of talent and expertise. A Committee member's authority cannot be transferred to an alternate or proxy. Gateway National Recreation Area's superintendent, Jennifer T. Nersesian, is the Designated Federal Official for the Committee but is not a member.

Members are selected by the Secretary of the Interior for three-year terms. Eight members' terms expire in August 2014. Nominations were open for these eight positions between June 12 and July 21, 2014.

At the committee's July 18 meeting, it was decided to expand the number of members beyond the current limit of 20. This requires a change in the committee charter, which must go through Washington for approval. We expect to issue another call for nominations once the change in the charter is made official.

For more information about our current membership, see Gateway's press release from September 2012. (Since that date, one member has resigned and is not listed below.)

Business Community

Arthur E. Imperatore, Jr., Romulus Development Corp. and New York Waterway

Bill Wilby, Community Foundation of New Jersey

Cultural Resources

Mary Eileen Fouratt, Monmouth County Arts Council

Daniel D. Saunders, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Historic Preservation Office

Shawn A. Welch, United States Army (retired); Army Ground Forces Association

Education Community

Linda Cohen, Ocean Discoveries

Hospitality Organizations

Margot Walsh, Jersey Shore Partnership and Jersey Shore Partnership Foundation

Municipalities

Lillian Burry, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders

George Conway, Borough of Sea Bright

John Ekdahl, Mayor, Borough of Rumson

Frank Nolan, Mayor, Borough of Highlands

Middletown Township position: Vacant

Natural Resource Community

Dr. Howard Parish, New Jersey City University

Real Estate Community

Guy Hembling, Charles B. Hembling and Son, Inc.

Michael Holenstein, MAI Real Estate Appraisal

Karolyn Wray, GMS, Prudential Zack Shore Properties

Recreation Community

Timothy Hill, New Jersey Recreation and Park Association

Co-chair: John Reynolds, National Park Service (retired)

Lynda Rose, Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce

Scientific Community

Co-chair: Gerard Glaser, National Science Foundation (retired)