AAPA welcomes PANYNJ’s Rooney to Board of Directors

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced that Bethann Rooney, Port Director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), officially joined its Board of Directors, representing the Max Dues payer category of port members.

“I'm honored to join the AAPA Board of Directors at such a consequential moment for America's ports,” said Rooney. “AAPA has consistently been at the center of this industry's most critical conversations — on infrastructure investment, supply chain resilience, and the long-term competitiveness of American trade. From our position at the East Coast's busiest seaport, we see both real challenges and extraordinary opportunities to modernize, grow, and keep delivering for the businesses, workers, and communities who depend on us.”

Rooney brings more than three decades of experience at PANYNJ, where she has held a series of progressively higher-level management positions since joining in 1993. As the port director, she oversees one of the busiest and most strategically significant port complexes in the nation. She is the architect of the Port of New York and New Jersey's Council on Port Performance, the first forum of its kind in the United States, established to identify challenges to port efficiency and service reliability and develop recommended solutions. Earlier in her career, she served as the agency's first-ever manager of port security, a role to which she was appointed one day after the 9/11 attacks, and held for more than 13 years.

Rooney began her career as a port captain and vessel agent for General Steamship Corporation. She holds a master's degree in international transportation and a bachelor's degree in marine transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College, with qualifications as a Third Mate. She is also an Accredited Marine Port Executive from the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives.

“Bethann is one of the most experienced and talented port leaders in the country, and it’s an absolute pleasure to have her join the Board of Directors,” stated Sang Yi, AAPA President and CEO. “She will undoubtedly be an asset to our association as we seek to grow and expand our advocacy to win on behalf of America’s ports.”

Rooney joins the AAPA Board as the association continues advancing policies and strategies that support port infrastructure, workforce development, and long-term competitiveness across the Americas.