Ron Popham

Ron joined the Port of San Diego in June 30, 2003 as the Senior Director of the Maritime Division at the Port of San Diego.  He recently was named by the Port to his new position as Asst. VP, Industry & Trade Relations.  Ron is a 36-year veteran of the international shipping and the port industry.  He began his career in the private sector in 1972 in San Francisco, California and worked for 21-years in line management, sales/marketing, and administration with several steamship agencies and ocean carriers.

In 1993, he changed his career path to the port industry and joined the Port of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, Washington and served as Director of Marketing and Director of Business Services.  He joined the Port of Galveston, in Galveston, Texas in 1998 and served as Deputy Port Director, Director of Marketing and Acting Port Director until 2000 when he became Director of Marketing for the Port of Sacramento in Sacramento, California.

Ron received his B.A. in Government in 1969 and Elementary Teaching Credential in 1970 from Sacramento State College, and his Master's Degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California in 1978.  He received certification from the American Association of Port Authorities as Professional Port Manager (PPM) in 2002.

Ron is married to Maria Popham from Havana, Cuba and has two adult children, Danny, 33, and Sasha, 25.  Ron is fluent in Spanish.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972.