DR. NOEL HACEGABA
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the Chief Operating Officer of the Port of Long Beach, the nation’s
second-busiest container port. He is 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
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 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.