Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange recently announced that Patrick J. Gallwey will become Chief Operating Officer of the Port of New Orleans when Port COO Dave Wagner retires in June. Gallwey is a 26-year veteran of the Port staff and is the Executive Assistant for Administration. In addition to Gallwey's promotion, LaGrange announced several other changes in the Port's executive organizational structure.

Wagner is retiring from the position he has held since 1989 after an impressive 40-year career. Prior to his position as COO at the Port of New Orleans, Wagner was the Executive Director of the Port of Baltimore for three years. He also served as Deputy Secretary of Transportation for the State of Maryland from 1984 to 1986, in addition to holding the position of General Manager of the Mass Transit Administration of Maryland for several years.

"Dave Wagner has been instrumental in creating and managing one of the finest port organizations in the nation. LaGrange said. "He will certainly be missed, but we wish him all of the best in the years to come."

Gallwey joined the Port of New Orleans in 1980 and has been Executive Assistant for Administration to the President and CEO since May 1998, handling management and administrative matters. Prior to this appointment, he served as Director of Industrial Development for six years and as Director of Planning and Engineering from 1989 through 1997. In this capacity he managed all aspects of port transportation planning, facility development, maintenance, terminal design and construction. From 1997 to 1998 he served as Vice President of Maritime Operations handling the Port's terminal operations, marketing and communications. Before joining the Port, he served as Executive Assistant to the Lt. Governor of Louisiana. Gallwey also earned a Master of Science Degree in Urban Studies from the University of New Orleans.

"Pat has worked hard over his entire career here and has dedicated himself to making this organization the best it can be," LaGrange said. "He has earned and is most deserving of his new role."

Until May 31, Gallwey and Wagner will work closely to transition the Chief Operations Officer functions as smoothly as possible. Wagner will remain COO until May 31; however, Gallwey will begin to assume some of the duties over the next three months.

With this realignment of the Port's organizational structure, the following are the other executive staff: Ted Knight, Executive Assistant of Operations; Clyde Mathis, Executive Assistant of Business Development and Marketing; Kyle Goode, Special Assistant; Joseph Coccharia, Director of Business Planning and Commercial Development; Paul Zimmerman, Director of Operations; Cynthia Swain, Director of Administration; James Ruckert-Director of Finance, Deborah Keller, Director of Port Development; Robert Jumonville, Director of Cruise and Tourism; and Brien Gussoni, Jr., Director of Legal Services.