By Karen Robes Meeks
Oakland International Airport Assistant Director of Aviation Kristi McKenney is the new Port of Oakland Chief Operating Officer, a newly created role.
McKenney, who came to the port in 1994 as an environmental planner before becoming assistant director of aviation in 2014, will now be tasked to oversee port operations, including engineering services, environmental programs and planning, utilities and IT, as well as ensuring the port is complying with board policies and government regulations.
“I’m grateful to the Board for establishing the COO position and pleased that Kristi is joining our executive team,” said Port Executive Director Danny Wan. “We’re developing an ambitious growth strategy for the port and she’ll be instrumental in advancing it.”
McKenney lives in Oakland, Calif. She has a bachelor of science degree in aeronautics from San Jose State University and a master of science degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.