Rockford Weitz

Rockford Weitz

Professor of the Practice in Maritime Studies
Director of the Fletcher Maritime Studies Program

Contact Information

Research/Areas of Interest

Maritime geopolitics & security
Oil and energy geopolitics
Marine insurance geopolitics & Lloyd's of London
Arctic studies
Law of the sea
Blue technology and ocean innovation
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South China Sea; Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Strait of Hormuz

Education

  • PhD, Tufts University, Medford, United States
  • JD, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
  • MA, Tufts University, Medford, United States
  • BA, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, United States

Biography

Rockford Weitz is professor of the practice in maritime studies at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. He brings a wealth of expertise in maritime geopolitics and commodities trading to his courses on entrepreneurial leadership, maritime security, and global maritime affairs. As director of the Fletcher Maritime Studies Program, Weitz is a leader in research related to maritime security, arctic studies, blue technology, and energy geopolitics.

As professor of practice, Weitz draws from his previous experience as a former commodities trader. He served as founding CEO at CargoMetrics, where he led the effort to build a VC-backed financial technology business that grew in value to over $110M. An Arctic expert, Weitz advised the Singaporean prime minister's office on the global implications of opening Arctic sea routes. Additionally, he has been committed to Track II diplomacy and negotiation since working on a social entrepreneurship venture in Bethlehem. With years of experience in both the global maritime industry and academia, Weitz is a trusted advisor to politicians and business leaders, and he is a frequent commentator in the media.

Weitz is president of the Institute for Global Maritime Studies, which seeks practical solutions to global maritime challenges, and is also president and CEO at Rhumb Line International LLC, a consultancy providing strategic advice to entrepreneurs and startups.

Selected Publications

Weitz, R. (2019). What is at stake in the Strait of Hormuz?. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/what-is-at-stake-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-120486

Weitz, R. (2018). Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-strait-of-hormuz-important-99496

Weitz, R. (2018). Strategic Maritime Chokepoints: Perspectives from the Global Shipping and Port Sectors. In G. Gresh (Ed.), Eurasia's Maritime Rise and Global Security: From the Indian Ocean to Pacific Asia and the Arctic. Palgrave MacMillan.

Weitz, R. (2008). America’s Deep Blue Highway – How Coastal Shipping Could Reduce Traffic Congestion, Lower Pollution, and Bolster National Security.. Institute for Global Maritime Studies.

Weitz, R., Perry, J. C., & Borgerson, S. (2007). The Deep Blue Highway. The New York Times.

Weitz, R., & Reiter Neal, S. (2007). Preventing Terrorist Best Practices from Going Mass Market: A Case Study of Suicide Attacks ‘Crossing the Chasm. In S. Costigan (Ed.), Terrornomics. Ashgate.