After more than eight years at the helm, Mario Cordero will this year retire as the chief executive of the Port of Long Beach.
His tenure running one half of the vaunted San Pedro Bay port complex will cap off more than two decades of work on port- and trade-related policy. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners will determine Cordero’s replacement.
“I could not be more grateful for what has been the opportunity of a lifetime to lead the Port of Long Beach over these past several years,” Cordero said in a statement. “While I’ll miss being in the center of the action for international trade, I know that I’m leaving the port in the very capable hands of our Board of Harbor Commissioners and the exemplary staff. It’s been a very rewarding experience, and I have amassed wonderful memories that I will cherish forever.”
Cordero’s first foray into port affairs began in 2003 when he was appointed as a harbor commissioner. He was later an appointee of President Barack Obama to the Federal Maritime Commission in 2011, where he served until his appointment as the port’s chief executive in 2017.
In addition to leading the port to record cargo volumes, perhaps the most significant piece of Cordero’s legacy will be the Green Port Policy, which he proposed as a harbor commissioner. The policy, now adopted by both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles, has significantly reduced emissions at the complex, which has long been the largest single source of emissions in Los Angeles County.
“He has guided one of the world’s busiest seaports through unprecedented times with vision and steady leadership, always keeping people and community at the center,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said. “Mario is a true Long Beach public servant, and his impact will be felt for generations to come.”
Cordero studied political science at Cal State Long Beach and earned a law degree at the University of Santa Clara. In addition to his 30-plus-year career as an attorney, he also taught political science part-time at Long Beach City College.
