Port of Hueneme Announces New Chief Operating Officer

Port CEO & Director Kristin Decas announced today that John Demers would be joining the staff at the Port of Hueneme as the Port’s new Chief Operations Officer.  Decas said, “John comes to us with a strong background in operations and logistics in his over 20 years of service with the United States Navy. During his military tenure he held senior level officer positions directing diverse cargo handling operations, construction projects, IT activities, training, administration and overall logistics.”

Demers, who is retiring from the Navy, will begin his post with the Port on Tuesday July 23,2013.  John’s home base is Santa Paula, CA where he lives with his wife Rachel and their youngest son.

A graduate of the U.S. Army War College with a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies Demers is a desert storm veteran and served as a military liaison officer to the Iraqi Government during operation Iraqi Freedom.  John completed two tours of duty at Naval Base Ventura County, first with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE and later with the FIFTH Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment.  As a senior level Navy officer, John has held leadership positions of progressively increasing scope and complexity including service as a Chief Staff Officer and Fleet Operations Officer before assuming his current duty as a Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff at the U.S. FIFTH Fleet.

Regarding his retirement and return home to work with the Port John said,” I am looking forward to returning to the community that I have considered my home for the last 12 years.  I am honored by my selection as the Chief Operating Officer, and will bring all my experience and knowledge gained during the more than 20 years of Naval service to help move forward new ideas for the Port and the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme.  I am very excited to be a part of this great team of professionals.”