PORTLAND – Sen. Olympia Snowe has recommended Jeffrey Monroe, the city’s transportation director, to serve on a federal advisory panel on port and maritime security.

In making the recommendation to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, Snowe praised Monroe’s contributions to a transportation security bill passed after the Sept. 11 attacks.

At the time, Monroe spoke out for a coordinated response to challenges to the nation’s transportation system rather than concentrating only on airports, Snowe said.

Snowe, R-Maine, later wrote legislation to assure that in the event of an emergency, there would be a centralized authority to coordinate national transportation. The bill passed after Monroe’s testimony on its behalf, she said.

Dave Lackey, Snowe’s spokesman, said he expects Mineta to select members of the panel in late winter or early spring.

Monroe said he was thrilled to be recommended to the panel, which will recommend ways to improve seaport security.

“What I’m most interested in is ensuring that we have a coordinated effort that doesn’t put smaller ports with less resources at a disadvantage,” he said.

“If I get tapped, we’ll have some representation at the national level, because sometimes we get overlooked up here in New England.”

Monroe, who oversees the Portland International Jetport as well as the seaport, is former deputy port director for the Massachusetts Port Authority.

If named to the advisory panel, he would remain on the job.