Dr Noel Hacegaba CPE Appointed Port of Long Beach CEO

Dr Noel Hacegaba CPE Appointed Port of Long Beach CEO

Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the Chief Operating Officer of the Port of Long Beach, responsible for managing the Port’s day-to-day operations, including Commercial Operations, Finance and Administration, Engineering Services, Planning and Environmental Affairs, Human Resources, Communications and Government Relations.

In recent years, Dr. Hacegaba led the Port’s response to the pandemic-induced supply chain crisis, directing the Port’s Business Recovery Taskforce and coordinating with industry, labor and government partners to identify near-term solutions. Under his leadership, the Port of Long Beach opened the nation’s first “pop-up yard” to provide immediate congestion relief and facilitated the first 24-hour terminal operation.

Dr. Hacegaba is also leading the development of the Port’s digital initiative known as the Supply Chain Information Highway, which seeks to close the gap on the lack of visibility and data sharing in goods movement by enabling end-to-end visibility and coast-to-coast connectivity.

In addition, Dr. Hacegaba served as the Port’s lead negotiator on major business transactions, including the sale of Long Beach Container Terminal and Total Terminals International, each multibillion-dollar assets at the time of sale.

Previously, Dr. Hacegaba served as the Port’s Managing Director of Commercial Operations and Chief Commercial Officer, the Port’s senior executive responsible for developing and executing business development strategies to drive cargo and revenue growth. In this role, Dr. Hacegaba successfully managed the Port’s commercial activities during a period of significant industry realignment and led the swift recovery of its largest container terminal following the biggest bankruptcy in shipping line industry history, clearing the path for record cargo volumes.

Dr. Hacegaba began his career at the Port as the Executive Officer to the Board of Harbor Commissioners, a position that reported directly to the Board and coordinated the governing body’s policy, administrative and communications functions.

Dr. Hacegaba also serves as Executive Director of the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility-Joint Powers Authority, a near-dock rail facility supporting the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

In total, Dr. Hacegaba has more than 26 years of public and private sector experience spanning a variety of industries. Prior to joining the Port, he managed $200 million in contracts for a Fortune 500 company.

He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he earned degrees in economics (BA and MA), business administration (BS) and urban planning (MPL). He earned his doctorate in public administration at the University of La Verne, where he continues to serve on the faculty of the school’s College of Business and Public Management.

Dr. Hacegaba is a Certified Port Executive (CPE) and earned the Port Professional Executive (PPX) and Port Professional Manager (PPM) professional designations offered through the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). As part of his work in the PPM program, Dr. Hacegaba authored a white paper titled “Big Ships, Big Challenges: The Impact of Mega Container Vessels on U.S. Port Authorities,” which was published and widely distributed within the port authority sector and the broader goods movement industry. He has also written numerous other articles published in Port Technology International and the Journal of Commerce, among other publications.

Dr. Hacegaba holds various leadership roles in the goods movement industry.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Intermodal Association of North America, where he just completed two terms as Chairman. He also serves as Treasurer of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors’ Board of Directors. In addition, he serves as Chairman of AAPA’s Professional Development Board and on the Boards of Directors of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Propeller Club. Most recently, in 2025 he joined the Board of Advisors for the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives. The Board reviews and approves IAMPE course programs, recommends improvements to IAMPE programming, supports course development, and provides general advice to the organization as to how to best serve the port industry.

In 2025, Dr. Hacegaba was honored with the coveted Stanley T. Olafson award from the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce for his impactful contributions to the advancement of international trade during his 15-year Port career.

The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed and efficiency. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at more than $300 billion annually and supports 2.7 million jobs across the United States, including 691,000 in Southern California. It is one of 18 commercial strategic seaports in the United States, with a duty to support force deployment during contingencies and other national defense emergencies. In 2025, the Port is celebrating “20 Years of Leading Green,” marking two decades of its landmark Green Port Policy that has dramatically reduced environmental impacts from operations. Industry leaders named Long Beach “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for a seventh consecutive year and “The Best Green Seaport” in 2025. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $3.2 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.

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