Meet Interim Ferries Chief George Capacci

San Juan Islands Reservation System a priority

— from Washington State Ferries’ Captain George A. Capacci —

Captain George Capacci, with Coast Guard, Alaska Marine Highway, B.C. Ferries and WSF experience

I am Capt. George Capacci, the interim assistant secretary appointee for the WSDOT Ferries Division.
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I would like to take this opportunity to recognize David Moseley as he concludes his tenure as the Assistant Secretary for Washington State Ferries. It is a distinct honor to be appointed by State Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson to serve as interim assistant secretary, overseeing the largest ferry system in the United States.

I can assure you all that I will continue to commit myself to our vision of setting the world standard for ferry transportation through our commitments to our customers, our employees, the ferry-served communities, and ultimately to the taxpayers of the state of Washington.

In the near term, my priorities are to continue the fine work our employees and David have done connecting with our customers. The introduction of the newly constructed Olympic class ferry TOKITAE to the Mukilteo-Clinton route by summer season is a priority, as is my commitment to the rollout of the second phase of the Vehicle Reservation System in the San Juan Islands this winter.

I come to this position in my career through a lifelong connection to the sea. I served a twenty-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard as a mariner, in command of sea-going buoy tenders and medium endurance cutters as well as service aboard polar icebreakers. I then worked with the fine men and women of the Alaska Marine Highway System for a total of seven years; first as a Port Captain and ultimately as General Manager for four years.

Victoria B.C. was my next step working as Vice President of Fleet Operations for B.C. Ferries. For five years, I oversaw their fleet of 38 vessels, and also incorporated newly constructed vessels into the fleet.

In 2009, I took a position as a Regional Port Captain with Washington State Ferries, and in 2010 assumed the Deputy Chief of Operations and Construction position, serving as David’s deputy for the past four years.

As a world leader, Washington State Ferries builds on a proud history and continues to evolve and grow with a constant eye toward continuous improvement. I intend to carry forward our commitment to the people of Washington as careful stewards of our resources and the environment by continuing our system’s attention to our customers, and the performance measures established by the legislature.

I admire the constant effort of our crews afloat and ashore, at the Eagle Harbor maintenance facility and at Ferries Headquarters. Together we will provide great customer service, take our mission seriously, and make a positive contribution to our region.

I look forward to this new adventure with the Washington State Ferries team.