Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen Honored with Inaugural Gaffen Blue Champion Award for Leadership in Transforming California’s Waterfronts and Advancing the Blue Economy
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles Trustee Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen will be the first recipient of the newly established Gaffen Blue Champion Award, an honor created to celebrate visionary leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing the Blue Economy through innovation, sustainability, and collaboration. The award will be presented by TMA BlueTech, in partnership with the Norwegian Consulate General, during its annual conference in San Diego on November 13, 2025.
The event will take place aboard the historic tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, docked at Broadway Pier in San Diego. In addition to the award presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to join a fireside chat featuring Gaffen and other leaders shaping the future of the ocean economy. The event is open to the public, and registration details and tickets are available through TMA BlueTech’s official event page.
Recognizing a Lifetime of Visionary Leadership
The Gaffen Blue Champion Award has been named in recognition of Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen’s remarkable legacy of leadership and dedication to revitalizing California’s coastal communities. Over the course of more than four decades, Gaffen has played a transformative role in reshaping waterfronts across the state—turning them into thriving hubs of economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.
The award celebrates those whose work bridges science, industry, and policy to deliver measurable environmental and economic progress. By establishing this new tradition as part of BlueTech Month, TMA BlueTech seeks to honor individuals whose efforts embody the principles of innovation, integrity, and sustainability that define the global Blue Economy.
According to Terry Tamminen, President and CEO of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, Gaffen’s vision has been instrumental in bringing people, ideas, and innovation together along California’s coastline.
Gaf’s vision proposes to revitalize San Diego’s waterfront to bring communities together at the coastline, and we are so glad he is bringing that same vision up to Los Angeles at AltaSea,” said Tamminen. “Gaf is well-deserving of this special recognition and having the award named after him. His lifelong dedication to building a more resilient and prosperous ocean future deserves this significant recognition.
A Builder of Communities and a Champion for Sustainability
Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen’s professional journey is deeply rooted in construction, development, and project management. With over 40 years of experience, he has led numerous high-profile projects that have redefined California’s relationship with its waterfronts. As the founder and CEO of Gafcon, Inc., one of Southern California’s most respected construction consulting firms, Gaffen has built a reputation for excellence, vision, and collaboration.
Among his most notable accomplishments is his leadership in shaping the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan in San Diego, a master plan that transformed the city’s waterfront into a world-class destination that balances recreation, commerce, and environmental stewardship. Gaffen has also been instrumental in advancing the Port of Los Angeles Waterfront and Promenade, a major revitalization initiative that connects communities and businesses through sustainable urban design.
Perhaps Gaffen’s most ambitious endeavor to date is Seaport San Diego, a $3.5 billion reimagining of the city’s Central Embarcadero. This mixed-use waterfront development seamlessly blends hospitality, entertainment, experiential retail, food and beverage, education, and marine innovation. With a focus on sustainability and community engagement, Seaport San Diego aims to set a new global standard for how cities can redevelop their coastlines while protecting marine ecosystems and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Gaf’s leadership has set the standard for what it means to build a sustainable Blue Economy – one that balances innovation, community, and environmental responsibility,” said Matt Classen, Executive Director of TMA BlueTech. “It’s only fitting that he receives this award in recognition of his decades of visionary leadership and impact.
The Significance of the Blue Economy
The Blue Economy—a concept that encompasses the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem health—is at the heart of Gaffen’s work. His projects consistently demonstrate how responsible development can coexist with environmental protection and scientific innovation.
At AltaSea, Gaffen has played a key role in advancing the organization’s mission to accelerate scientific collaboration, foster marine innovation, and promote workforce development in ocean-related industries. AltaSea’s initiatives—ranging from aquaculture research to clean energy innovation—are helping to create a sustainable blueprint for the future of ocean-based economies.
Through his leadership, Gaffen has also helped bridge the BlueTech ecosystems of Los Angeles and San Diego, fostering greater collaboration between two of California’s most important maritime hubs. His efforts have inspired new partnerships across academia, government, and industry, reinforcing the state’s position as a global leader in ocean innovation.
About the Gaffen Blue Champion Award
The establishment of the Gaffen Blue Champion Award marks a significant milestone for the Blue Economy community. The award’s mission is to recognize individuals whose work exemplifies the spirit of environmental stewardship and innovation that drives the sustainable ocean sector.
Named in honor of Gaffen’s legacy, the award symbolizes a commitment to the long-term health of our oceans and the communities that depend on them. Recipients are expected to represent the convergence of visionary leadership, technical expertise, and civic responsibility—qualities that have defined Gaffen’s career for over four decades.
The award will become an annual feature of BlueTech Month, which celebrates California’s growing leadership in the ocean technology and sustainability sectors. BlueTech Month brings together experts from science, defense, policy, and industry to discuss strategies for developing a more sustainable and resilient maritime economy.
TMA BlueTech: Driving the Future of Ocean Innovation
Founded in 2007, TMA BlueTech is the first and largest ocean and water technologies cluster in the United States. With more than 140 member organizations, including industry leaders, startups, investors, and academic institutions, TMA BlueTech fosters a collaborative ecosystem that supports innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability within the Blue Economy.
Through strategic partnerships and global outreach, TMA BlueTech helps connect innovators with investors, policymakers, and customers to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies in ocean and water sectors.
Each year, BlueTech Month serves as a platform to showcase the organization’s work and highlight the growing significance of the Blue Economy to California and beyond. From San Francisco to San Diego, the month-long initiative features conferences, networking sessions, innovation showcases, and policy discussions that shape the future of maritime industries.
A Legacy of Vision, Innovation, and Integrity
Gaffen’s contributions extend far beyond his professional accomplishments. His work reflects a deep personal commitment to community-building, education, and environmental responsibility. By integrating sustainable practices into every stage of development—from concept and design to execution—Gaffen has demonstrated how cities can thrive without compromising their natural assets.
Under his leadership, projects like Seaport San Diego and AltaSea have become models for how public-private partnerships can drive both economic prosperity and ecological resilience. His legacy serves as an inspiration for future generations of developers, policymakers, and innovators working to ensure that the world’s coastlines remain both productive and protected.
The Gaffen Blue Champion Award not only honors Gaffen’s lifetime of achievement but also sets a standard for others to follow—encouraging a new era of leadership that sees the ocean not as a resource to exploit, but as a shared legacy to preserve and nurture.
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