Dr. Noel Hacegaba
President
Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Long Beach. In recent years, Dr. Hacegaba led the Port’s response to the pandemic-induced supply chain crisis, leading the Port’s internal 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 first “pop-up yard” known as STOR (Short-Term Overflow Resource) for much-needed surge capacity and supported the first 24-hour terminal operation in the nation at TTI terminal.
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. Seven other ports are collaborating with the Port of Long Beach on the development of this digital initiative.
In addition, Dr. Hacegaba has also led negotiations on behalf of the Port on major business transactions, including the sale of Long Beach Container Terminal and Total Terminals International, each multi-billion 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 in 2010 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.
In total, Dr. Hacegaba has more than 25 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. In earlier roles, he served as a senior administrator for an elected office, a business executive for a growing company engaged in international trade, a research analyst for a policy research group and as a management consultant.
He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he earned degrees in economics (B.A. and M.A.), business administration (B.S.) 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 also a graduate of the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, one of the nation’s premier post-graduate fellowship programs. Additionally, he 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, “Big Ships, Big Challenges: The Impact of Mega Container Vessels on U.S. Port Authorities,” which was published by AAPA and widely distributed as a reference resource within the port authority sector and the broader goods movement industry. He has written numerous other articles published in Port Technology International and the Journal of Commerce.
An active member of the community and the goods movement industry, Dr. Hacegaba serves in various leadership roles. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Intermodal Association of North America, the largest organization representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight transportation industry, after serving two terms as Chairman of the Board. He also serves as Chairman of the Professional Development Board of the American Association of Port Authorities, a member of the Marine Exchange of Southern California Board of Directors, Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce Board of Directors, St. Mary Medical Center Board of Trustees, Long Beach City College Foundation Board of Governors and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Propeller Club.
Kristin Decas
Vice-President
Kristin Decas is the CEO & Port Director of the Port of Hueneme. A proven leader, Kristin repeatedly demonstrates her ability to build a vision and implement strategy through open, collaborative processes that foster results. Since beginning her tenure with the Port of Hueneme in February 2012, the Port has realized several successes. Tonnage totals reached significant new milestones with cargo growing from 1.3 million tons in FY 2012 to over 2.3 million tons in FY 2023, marking the Port’s strongest sustained trade years since its inception in 1937. With cargo up 80% since Kristin took the helm, revenues have grown an impressive 133%. Known for its niche in automobiles, bananas, fresh fruit, fertilizer, high and heavy, and project cargo, Port of Hueneme’s trade-related activities generate $2.8 billion in annual economic impacts, this represents more than a 250% increase since 2012. Trade through the Port spurs 24,997 direct, indirect, induced, and influenced jobs and $236 million in state and local tax revenues, increases of 144% and 342%, respectively, over 2012 performance.
Kristin’s leadership has brought millions of dollars to the Port in grant funding. Most recent successes include securing a historic $80 million Port Freight and Infrastructure Program grant funding through the FY23 Governor’s Budget for projects aimed at generating economic growth, significant environmental and innovative progress, and social equity. Also on her watch, the Port secured a $11.9 million Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant from the Ventura County Transportation Commission, a $5 million grant from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, and a $5 million state earmark to implement innovative technologies and build zero-emission infrastructure improvement projects. During her tenure, the Port also received over $1,000,000 from the EPA for Community Air Quality Monitoring and shoreside power projects, over $7.5 million from the California Air Resources Board grant for zero-emission equipment and infrastructure, a $12.3 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER), and approximately $6.5 million federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants. She also worked with the finance team on putting together a complex $15 million New Market Tax Credit deal to help fund berth electrification projects.
Kristin championed the Port’s first annual Banana Festival drawing over 12,000 visitors each year. In 2019 and 2020, the festival was replaced with “Feeding the Frontline” events during the pandemic, which leveraged Port customers, small business owners, volunteers, and local health clinics to bring over 1.5 million lbs. of produce and other resources to 50,000 families in Ventura County.
Through Kristin’s leadership, the Port of Hueneme initiated its environmental framework which has led to the development of world-class air quality monitoring in South Oxnard. Another milestone under Kristin, the Port was the first California port to receive Green Marine Certification in California and earn the title of the Greenest Port in the United States at the Green Shipping Summit in 2017.
Prior to coming to the Port of Hueneme, Kristin served as CEO and Port Director at the Port of New Bedford, MA, the nation’s number one value fishing Port. Under her leadership, the Port realized significant growth in port development, cruise, and recreational boating activity. Kristin is recognized by Trade Administration officials for her impressive work in leveraging economic development through international trade promotion and for her service on several federal shipping and port committees. From 2015 through 2019, Kristin served as the President of the California Association of Port
Authorities (CAPA) representing California’s 11 deep water ports, providing educational leadership and advocacy on issues related to transportation, trade, the environment, land use, energy, and other subjects affecting port operations. Kristin was awarded high-profile appointments by the U.S. Department of Transportation to the National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC) and the U.S. Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC). In 2015, Kristin served as The National Chairperson of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), a trade association representing more than 130 public port authorities in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Kristin was the first woman to lead the Port of New Bedford in its more than 50-year history and the Port of Hueneme in its 87-year history. She was the 4th woman to chair the Association of American Port Authorities in 112 years.
In 2022 and 2024, Kristin was named one of Pacific Coast Business Times’ Most Influential People, and by the same publication since 2015, she has been named in the top 50 businesswomen for Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Kristin was a Woman of the Year Recipient given by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson and Assemblymember Monique Limon in 2019. In 2017, Kristin was named Maritime Executive of the Year at the Green Shipping Summit USA, acknowledged as Top Port Director of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP), and was named Outstanding Woman of the Year in International Trade by Women in Transportation – Los Angeles Chapter (WIT-LA). Kristin also made the list for the Pacific Coast Business Times 2017 “Who’s Who” in Business Leadership. In 2016, Kristin was recognized by Worldwide Branding as a Top Female Executive. Kristin received Woman of the Year from the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce in 2014.
Kristin also supports her community by serving as the current Chair of the Economic Development Collaborative Executive Board. She lives in Oxnard, CA, with her husband and is the proud mother of two daughters.