The Board of Port Commissioners announced Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, that Wayne Darbeau, who has been serving as the Interim President/CEO of the Port of San Diego, has been appointed to the position permanently.

Darbeau had been serving as the Interim leader of the agency since October 5, 2010.

“We considered a nationwide search for this position, but we realized that the person who has the best qualities to move this organization forward was right here,” said Robert “Dukie” Valderrama, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. “We’re elated that we found someone of such high caliber within the organization to lead us into the future.”

Prior to his appointment as Interim President/CEO, Darbeau served as the Port’s Vice President of Administration. He has been with the organization since 1998 and has held key leadership positions, including Senior Director, Director and Administrator.

“I am proud of this agency and humbled to serve as its CEO,” said Darbeau. “These are very challenging times for the organization and I am committed to serving the staff, the public, our tenants, and partners and continuing the same high level of service we’ve been providing for more than 47 years.”

Darbeau earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts; a master’s degree in international relations from the University of San Diego; and an MBA in business from the University of Redlands.