By Mark Edward Nero
During a special May 9 meeting, the Port of Port Townsend’s three-member port commission unanimously selected Sam Gibboney, the director of environmental resources/deputy director of public works for San Juan County, Wash. as the port’s next executive director.
She will replace Larry Crockett, 68, who is retiring at the end of May after 17 years in the position. Crockett, who has served as executive director since April 1999, announced his retirement in January.
“I’ll be 69 this summer, and I have some other adventures I want to try while I am still in good health,” he said at the time.
Gibboney, who beat out two other finalists for the job, has a BS in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University, and a Masters of Public Administration at the University of Washington. She had been San Juan County’s deputy public works director, a newly-created position, since late 2015. Prior to that, she was the county’s community development and planning department director.
As the port’s executive director, she will be responsible for all operations and lease negotiations with over 175 tenants/businesses, leading a staff of 26 people that oversees operations of three marinas, boat yards, industrial parks and the Jefferson County International Airport.