By Mark Edward Nero
On Feb. 13, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners officially selected Port of Long Beach senior executive Sean Gamette as the port’s new Managing Director of Engineering Services.
Gamette was chosen after a competitive process to replace Doug Thiessen, who retired earlier this year after nearly 17 years with the POLB. Gamette will now lead the bureau that oversees and executes engineering and construction projects and maintenance for the Harbor Department.
Gamette had been the port’s Program Delivery Group Director and Chief Harbor Engineer, and in that position led a team of managers, engineers, inspectors, surveyors, technicians and support staff responsible for the port’s capital investment program.
He came to the Harbor Department in 2003 as a senior program manager and was promoted to Deputy Chief Harbor Engineer in 2009 before assuming duties leading the Program Delivery Group in 2013. He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
“Sean has worked on projects in the harbor as an engineer for almost 20 years, since before he even joined us,” Port of Long Beach Interim Chief Executive Duane Kenagy said. “His institutional knowledge and collaborative demeanor will serve the Engineering Services Bureau well as we complete the projects that are important to maintaining our competitiveness in this rapidly changing industry.”
