The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has appointed Mario Cordero as the new executive director of the Port of Long Beach.

Cordero will join the port in May 2017 and succeeds Duane Kenagy, who has been interim executive director since late 2016.

“After a comprehensive international search, the Board of Harbor Commissioners recognized that Mario Cordero is an ideal choice to lead the Port of Long Beach,” said Lori Ann Guzmán, president of the Harbor Commission. “Mario not only has a deep understanding of the maritime industry from his leadership of the Federal Maritime Commission, but his service as a member of the Long Beach Harbor Commission gives him extensive knowledge of the needs of our carriers, terminal operators, cargo owners and other trade partners. Mario approaches challenges from a bipartisan, collaborative perspective and as we seek to keep our port thriving, his combination of national and local experience is well-suited to carry us into the future.”

Cordero has served on the Federal Maritime Commission since 2011, with a term expiring in June 2019. He was chairman from April 2013 until January 2017, president of the Harbor Commission from 2007 to 2008, and was a commissioner of Long Beach Harbor from 2003 to 2011.

“I am so pleased to be coming back home to the Port of Long Beach during this time of dramatic change in the maritime industry,” he said. “The broad perspective I gained at the national level, along with my many years of service as a Long Beach Harbor commissioner and my love for the community of Long Beach, will allow me to hit the ground running. We have a stellar leadership team in place, and I’ll be working closely with the commission and our highly experienced staff in the months ahead to carry out our ambitious capital improvements and ensure that our customers and community members are well-served.”

Cordero has also served on the executive board of the Latin American delegation of the American Association of Port Authorities. He has practiced law for more than 30 years and has taught political science at Long Beach City College, according to the Port of Long Beach.