The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday approved the promotions of two longtime employees to lead the Port of Long Beach’s Environmental Planning and Business Development divisions.
Matt Arms will take over the fulltime role as Director of Environmental Planning after serving as Acting Director. Environmental Planning is the division most directly responsible for the Port’s signature environmental programs: the Green Port Policy and the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. Under the 2005 Green Port Policy, a landmark industry initiative, the division coordinates programs to improve air, water and soil quality, preserve wildlife habitat and integrate sustainability into Port practices. Due to the effectiveness of these programs, total diesel emissions at the Port have dramatically dropped by 87% since 2005, and native wildlife is making a comeback.
Arms joined the Port in 2003 as an Assistant Environmental Specialist, taking on a succession of larger roles before being appointed to the newly created position of Manager of Water Quality Programs in January 2013. In December of the same year, Arms was called to serve as Acting Director while the director was on leave, and was named Assistant Director upon the director's return. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Washington State University in 1998.
Roger Wu also served as Acting Director for the division he leads. The Business Development Division is responsible for maximizing revenue opportunities for the Port by developing business attraction strategies and through close relationships with ocean carriers, cargo owners, terminal operators, labor and supply chain partners.
