JPMorgan Chase has brought on two experienced leaders to boost its support for U.S. shipbuilding and the maritime sector as part of its $1.5 trillion Security and Resiliency Initiative (SRI). This ten-year plan aims to strengthen industries that are vital for economic and national security.
Chryssa Rask has been hired to oversee shipbuilding initiatives, while Jim Hamilton, who previously led Transportation Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan, will serve as a senior advisor focused on this industry.
These new appointments come a year after JPMorgan Chase unveiled its comprehensive investment initiative, which specifically prioritizes rebuilding U.S. shipbuilding capabilities, both commercial and military.
Rask joins the company from Cerberus Capital Management, where she worked as an investor with the firm's Supply Chain Fund, focusing on companies and technologies that enhance supply-chain resilience and U.S. manufacturing. In her new role, she will lead the shipbuilding efforts within the SRI while also supporting broader supply chain and advanced manufacturing initiatives.
Hamilton has over 30 years of experience in transportation and shipping, including his past leadership role at J.P. Morgan. He will collaborate with Rask to boost domestic shipbuilding capacity, strengthen maritime supply chains, and support the wider U.S. maritime industry.
“As a former Merchant Mariner and Naval Reserve Officer, I’m honored to return to J.P. Morgan to help lead SRI’s efforts to strengthen and re-establish our U.S. maritime presence and shipbuilding capabilities, supporting global trade and national security,” Hamilton commented.
These hires bring specialized maritime and investment knowledge to the initiative that JPMorgan Chase launched in October 2025, driven by increasing concerns about America’s reliance on foreign manufacturing and China’s leadership in global commercial shipbuilding.
Through the Security and Resiliency Initiative, the bank intends to facilitate, finance, and invest $1.5 trillion over ten years across multiple sectors, including advanced manufacturing, defense, energy, and strategic technologies.
This amount includes about $1 trillion in activities already planned by the bank and an additional $500 billion in expected investments. JPMorgan Chase has also pledged up to $10 billion in direct equity and venture capital investments in selected companies, primarily in the U.S.
Shipbuilding is one of the targeted industries, with plans to support both commercial and military vessel construction as part of broader efforts to enhance domestic manufacturing and lessen reliance on foreign supply chains.
The firm has already begun to allocate resources for these goals. In July, JPMorgan Chase announced $24 million in support for shipbuilding in Philadelphia, including programs aimed at developing the maritime workforce, assisting local suppliers, and strengthening the regional defense industrial base.
These recent appointments come at a time when the United States is working to rebuild its shipbuilding capacity after years of decline. Currently, American shipyards represent less than 1% of global commercial ship production, while China accounts for about half, leaving the U.S. heavily reliant on foreign-built vessels for much of its commercial fleet.
For JPMorgan Chase, adding dedicated shipbuilding leadership is another step toward translating its larger industrial investment strategy into focused financing and development efforts in specific sectors.