Longtime Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano will leave the Port of Brownsville effective Dec. 31.

Campirano became the eighth port director and CEO in the Port of Brownsville’s 87-year history when he was appointed to the position in 2007. Under his leadership spanning 16 years, the port has grown into a major international multimodal transportation hub for Texas and the United States, consistently setting records for the volume of cargo movements.

Major capital infrastructure projects under his tenure include the reconstruction and renovation of the port’s administration office campus; construction of two new cargo docks; the construction of the South Port Connector Road entrance; construction of a 118-acre shovel ready business park; rehabilitation of roads and patios; and the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project.

“Mr. Campirano has been instrumental in driving sustainable economic growth for the Rio Grande Valley, helping bring multi-billion-dollar business investments, critical maritime infrastructure to the port, and thousands of good-paying jobs for the region,” said Esteban Guerra, chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners. “On behalf of the BND Board, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for his years of service to the navigation district and our community.”

The BND Board of Commissioners began the process to search for a new port director and CEO in August. During the regular board meeting held Dec. 6, the BND Board unanimously voted to appoint Port Chief of Police William Dietrich interim port director, effective Jan. 1, while the search process continues.