PORT UPDATES
Q. What accomplishment dur- ing your tenure are you most proud of? When I first got elected, I created an environmental framework that was the first of its kind. It set us moving on a path that eventually will get us to our 2030 emissions goals. Q. How do you define success for a port commission? Be respectful. Be nice. Listen. Q. What legacy would you like to leave? I think my legacy is fairly clear. We have focused on local employment. We have the most ambitious environ- mental policy in the industry. We’ve gone from $6 billion to $18 billion in international trade. To be clear, I’m just part of the incredible team that made that happen.
we understood that we could actually complete it. Our current 2030 emis- sions plan is the most ambitious in America, and we feel confident that we will be zero emissions by the end of 2030. Q. What technologies or innova- tions do you believe will most transform port operations over the next decade? I don’t think anyone has a really good answer for this. The space is very fluid. Obviously, battery technology is going to be huge. Hydrogen still has poten- tial. But maybe tidal energy could be part of our portfolio? We are open and constantly looking at all opportunities. Q. How do you approach bal- ancing innovation with fiscal responsibility?
I think we see them as being hand- in-hand. If you’re smart with innova- tion , you’re going to be smart with your budget. Q. What policy issues currently have the greatest impact on ports? It’s easy to say tariffs because that is an absolute nightmare. But inconsis- tent environmental regulation is very challenging. We like to think of our- selves as the greenest Port in America, and we commit to do that. However, state regulations can often actually hamper our progress. Q. What advice would you give to others? Back to ignorance. I’ve been doing this for 16 years and I still feel stupid constantly. That’s a good thing. You just have to always be willing to learn.
Aerial of the Port of Hueneme
32 — PACIFIC PORTS — July 2026
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