Mark Szakonyi, Associate Editor | May 10, 2012 1:23PM EDT
The Obama administration appears to have finally pushed Collister Johnson Jr., head of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., out of his position. Craig Middlebrook, deputy SLSDC administrator, will fill the position.
Johnson, who had five months left in his seven-year term, told The Journal of Commerce in late April that he was being pressured to leave the job, largely because he was one of the few remaining George W. Bush appointees.
It’s unclear whether Johnson resigned or was fired by the Department of Transportation.
Middlebrook has filled various executive roles at the SLSDC since joining in 1995. Previously, he worked on surface transportation issues at the Interstate Commerce Commission and at a merchant bank in London before joining the agency.
The Great Lakes-Seaway News, an online newspaper devoted to coverage of the waterway, reported Johnson was fired.
SLSDC spokesperson Nancy Alcalde referred questions to a DOT spokesperson who didn’t disclose the circumstances of Johnson’s departure, only that Middlebrook is now the administrator.
Contact Mark Szakonyi at mszakonyi@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @szakonyi_joc.