Press Release: Tom Ridge Joins Swiftships Advisory Board

For immediate release: Aug 11, 2010

MORGAN CITY, LA – Swiftships Shipbuilders LLC announced today that the Honorable Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and former governor of Pennsylvania has joined its Board of Advisors. Ridge currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Ridge Global, an international security and risk management firm headquartered in Washington, DC.

“We are very excited and honored that Tom Ridge has joined our team and we cannot think of anyone who is better suited to help guide Swiftships in its mission to provide the finest patrol boats available in the market,” said Lutfi Hassan, chairman of Apex Group of Companies, the parent company of Swiftships.  “Secretary Ridge has decades of valuable business and security experience and his leadership will better prepare Swiftships to address the increasing needs of its clients.”

“I am delighted to work with Swiftships,” said Ridge. “We must always navigate maritime complexities and threats with the best vessels we can provide to those who work to protect and defend our global waterways. I look forward to helping Swiftships in that effort.”

A former Vietnam veteran and Member of Congress, Ridge served as governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1995-2001. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, he served as the first White House Advisor on Homeland Security and, later, as the nation’s first secretary of Homeland Security.

As Ridge Global’s chief executive, Secretary Ridge leads a team of international experts that offers expertise across a scope of core functional business concerns, including risk management, global trade security, emergency preparedness and response, infrastructure protection, technology integration, strategic planning and crisis management.

About Swiftships Shipbuilders

Swiftships Shipbuilder LLC, a prime member company of Apex Group Companies, is a leading designer and builder of mid-sized vessels in the world. Known for workmanship of the highest quality shipping vessels from Swiftships play a vital role in military and commercial applications. For more than six decades Swiftships has provided its customers with world-class products, consistently exceeding all quality and satisfaction requirements. For more information, please visit swiftships.com.