Rich Diffley Joins IRPT as Deputy Director

It is with great pleasure to share with you all that Rich Diffley has accepted the position of Deputy Director of Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals.

Rich, a former member and Director representing the IRPT Upper Mississippi River Basin, has an extensive background in logistics, transportation, building strategic partnerships and leadership. He also served with the St. Louis Regional Freightway as one of the original Needs Analysis Committee Members. The Freightway is tasked with identifying infrastructure improvements to help grow the river/rail/truck freight network in the St. Louis region. Rich is also a member of IAMPE (International Association of Maritime and Port Executives). He holds an Inland Maritime Port Executive and Accredited Maritime Port Executive Certification as well as a certified IAMPE Instructor.

Rich is an excellent addition to the IRPT staff and will help propel IRPT’s mission forward for the benefit of all IRPT Members.

Rich’s career in operations started at the bottom of the supply chain in the LTL trucking industry. There, he spent over 10 years successfully managing LTL transload warehouse terminals. In 2008 he joined Lange Stegmann Company, located at MM 182.7 on the Upper Mississippi River as Director of Operations. During his tenure, LSCO grew to be one of the most respected and largest bulk fertilizer transload facilities on the US inland river system. After LSCO, he spent a few years with Alter Logistics responsible for their Upper Mississippi river terminals and Logistec Gulf Coast at the top of the supply chain managing their bulk stevedoring operations in Florida.

Rich resides in Florida with his wife Deborah and they recently purchased a waterfront seafood restaurant in South Tampa that Deborah manages. He has 2 kids, Lexi and Harrison who are both grown and flown with their own successful careers.

As Deputy Director, Rich will be focused on IRPT’s resilience and USACE initiatives along with member basin communications, basin meetings, social media communications and of course our Annual Conference.

Please help me in welcoming Rich! His email is rdiffley@irpt.net