By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen, CEO of 1HWY1, LLC, the developer of the proposed Seaport San Diego project, has been named the inaugural recipient of The Maritime Alliance’s Blue Champion Award.
The honor will be presented aboard a Norwegian vessel visiting San Diego as part of a diplomatic mission on Nov. 13 during an event hosted by TMA BlueTech in collaboration with the Norwegian Consulate General and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Through high-level dialogue, visionary speakers, and cross-sector collaboration, the program will chart a regional model for inclusive growth in the Blue Economy.
Scheduled speakers at the event will include California State Senator Catherine Blakespear, California State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, Chair of the Board of Port Commissioners Danielle Moore, and California Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge. The panel discussions, award presentation, and VIP reception will be held aboard the historic tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl at Broadway Pier in San Diego.
Gaffen has been a driving force in positioning Southern California as a global hub for the emerging blue economy. With more than 40 years of construction, development, and project management success, he has led numerous large-scale projects that have redefined California’s waterfronts, including the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan in San Diego and the Port of Los Angeles Waterfront and Promenade.
Gaffen founded Gafcon, Inc., one of Southern California’s most respected construction consulting firms, and continues to guide transformative developments like Seaport San Diego, a proposed $3.5 billion reimagining of the city’s Central Embarcadero that blends hospitality, entertainment, experiential retail and food and beverage, and education with a focus on sustainability.
The Seaport San Diego vision has been recognized as a model for integrated, climate-positive urban design that celebrates the ocean, commercial fishing, and the blue economy. As a founding strategist and longtime Trustee of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, Gaffen has played a pivotal role in advancing ocean innovation, sustainability, and workforce development across the region.
“Gaf’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing the global movement toward ocean innovation,” said TMA BlueTech Executive Director Matt Classen. “He is a Southern California icon who exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and vision that the Blue Champion Award was created to honor.”
In honor of his late son, Gaffen is also launching the Wild Blue Foundation – a powerful catalyst for ocean education and workforce training that will inspire and equip the next generation of blue economy leaders in Southern California and beyond. Gaffen will share more details about this important new foundation on November 13.
“This recognition affirms our belief that great design and innovation can connect people to the water, to each other, and to the soul of a city,” said Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen, CEO of 1HWY1. “Through Seaport San Diego and the Wild Blue Foundation, we’re building not just for today, but for the generations who will carry forward the promise of a thriving, sustaining, and sustainable ocean economy.”
