Richard Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach for the past 14 years, has announced his plans to retire from the port effective Sept. 30. Under Steinke’s leadership, the port redeveloped the former Long Beach Naval Complex, creating one of the nation’s largest container cargo terminals. Steinke also implemented the Green Port Policy that included the Clean Trucks Program developed with the rival Port of Los Angeles.
Also under Steinke, the port won approval for a $1 billion Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, which will create a more efficient and green terminal, and the $950 million Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project, facilitating quicker and easier truck access in and out of the port.
“Dick has been instrumental in developing the Port of Long Beach into one of the top seaports in the world,” says Nick Sramek, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, which governs the Port of Long Beach. “He led the port out of the recent recession, keeping it strong financially, while guiding our major modernization and environmental projects.”
Sramek says the board would begin the search for Steinke’s successor shortly, and Steinke has agreed to assist the board in both the selection process and the smooth transition to a new executive director.
