Mohawk Global is proud to announce that Rich Roche, Senior Vice President at Mohawk Global and Chair of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA) Maritime Committee, will receive the prestigious NCBFAA Centurion Award during the closing ceremony of the 54th NCBFAA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, on April 14, 2027.
Established in 2006, the Centurion Award is NCBFAA’s highest individual recognition. It honors members whose exceptional leadership, service, and dedication have made a lasting contribution to the customs brokerage and international freight transportation industry.
Roche has been a longtime member and leader within NCBFAA, previously serving as Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee and Chair of the NVOCC Subcommittee, now known as the Maritime Committee. Through these roles, he has dedicated countless hours to advancing the interests of the forwarding community and strengthening the industry’s collective voice.
“The maritime industry is stronger because of the time, expertise, and passion Rich Roche so generously shared,” said Karen Damon, President of NCBFAA and Vice President of Regulatory Compliance at Mohawk Global. “Through countless hours of service to our association, the industry, and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Rich has left an enduring mark of excellence and integrity. I thank him for his service as a merchant marine, and he is well deserving of our NCBFAA Centurion Award.”
Roche has also played an active role in shaping industry policy and advancing solutions to complex supply chain challenges. He served on three FMC Innovation Teams focused on supply chain issues and detention and demurrage. He also completed a four-year term on the National Shippers Advisory Committee to the FMC and was admitted as a Non-Attorney Practitioner at the Commission.
“I am humbled and honored to be selected by NCBFAA for the Centurion Award,” said Roche. “It is especially meaningful to be included among such an extraordinary group of recipients, many of whom have been my mentors, colleagues, and friends throughout my career. Their guidance, leadership, and commitment to bettering our industry have helped shape my own journey, making this recognition all the more special.”
Roche has spent 33 years working in the NVOCC industry in Syracuse, New York, and will retire at the end of 2026. Prior to joining Mohawk Global, he held positions with Hapag-Lloyd and worked as a licensed marine cargo insurance broker in Manhattan.
His career in maritime transportation began at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Nautical Science and Marine Transportation and was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve. During his seagoing career, Roche served as a deck officer aboard breakbulk ships, oil tankers, roll-on/roll-off carriers, and containerships. He later upgraded his license to Chief Mate for vessels of any gross tonnage on the oceans and First-Class Pilot on the Upper Bay of New York Harbor.
“Rich’s impact extends far beyond his work at Mohawk Global,” said Gar Grannell, CEO of Mohawk Global. “His knowledge of the maritime industry, commitment to our profession, and willingness to dedicate his time and expertise to helping others have made him a respected leader throughout the industry. We are incredibly proud to see Rich receive this well-deserved recognition and grateful for the many ways he has contributed to Mohawk Global and the broader trade community.”
As Chair of the NCBFAA Maritime Committee, Roche has continued to advocate for the interests of the nation’s freight forwarders, customs brokers, NVOCCs, and other international trade professionals. His Centurion Award places him among an esteemed group of past recipients recognized for their outstanding service and leadership within the industry.
Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metro area, the NCBFAA represents more than 1,450 member companies and over 110,000 employees across the international trade sector. Its members include freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), NVOCCs, and air cargo agents serving importers and exporters throughout the United States and around the world.
Mohawk Global congratulates Rich on this distinguished honor and celebrates his decades of leadership, service, and dedication to the international freight transportation community.