Steinke to retire from Port of Long Beach
Richard D. Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach, announced Tuesday he will retire on Sept. 30.
| Steinke |
He has led Long Beach, the nation’s second-largest container port after the Port of Los Angeles, for 14 years.
'I have accomplished most of what I set out to do at the Port,' Steinke said. 'I'm pleased that I can move on knowing that I leave the port a better place than when I came on board.'
Under Steinke's leadership, the port redeveloped the former Long Beach Naval Complex, creating one of the nation's largest container cargo terminals. He also implemented a green port policy that included a clean trucks program developed with the Port of Los Angeles.
Current projects at the port include the $1 billion redevelopment of the port’s “Middle Harbor” and replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge at a cost of $950 million.
'Dick has been instrumental in developing the Port of Long Beach into one of the top seaports in the world,' said Nick Sramek, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. He said a search for Steinke's successor would begin shortly.
John McLaurin, president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, praised described Steinke as “honest, intelligent, calm, sincere, balanced and a person of integrity. Dick is an extremely thoughtful and knowledgeable leader. He will be missed in many ways but, most of all, he will be missed for his strength of character.”
Steinke's leadership extended throughout the U.S. port industry. He has been the chief spokesman for the U.S. West Coast Collaboration, a partnership of West Coast ports and the major western railroads. He has been chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities and the California Association of Port Authorities. Steinke serves on the boards of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility Joint Powers Authority, the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce, and Intermodal Transportation Institute.