Ports Director Sam Ruda Announces Departure; Acclaimed Maritime Industry Veteran Bethann Rooney Appointed to Lead East Coast’s Busiest Seaport into its Next Chapter

Beth Rooney Brings More Than Three Decades of Experience to Role; Served as Department Deputy Director for Past Three Years

Sam Ruda Departing to Return to West Coast After Steering Port Through Record-Breaking Cargo Volumes Throughout Covid-19 Pandemic

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that Sam Ruda, who has presided over record-setting growth at the busiest seaport on the East Coast, is stepping down as Director of the Port Department. Acclaimed maritime industry veteran Beth Rooney, who has more than three decades of experience and has been an integral part of the Port Department since 1993, has been appointed as its new Director. Having served as Deputy Director for the past three years, she will assume the Director role effective May 2.

Together, Ruda and Rooney have led the East Coast’s busiest and largest seaport, and third in the nation behind the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Under their leadership, the Port has achieved record-breaking volumes while navigating significant challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions, maintaining fluid operations at a time other large ports have seen significant backlogs. Ruda and Rooney have also overseen the development and implementation of the Port Master Plan, a visionary strategy to guide the port’s growth and manage an expected increase in cargo volumes over the next 30 years.