Hamdi Mohamed is the Port of Seattle Commission’s president for 2024, making her the first Black woman to hold the leadership position, the port announced Jan. 9.
Meanwhile, Toshiko Hasegawa is the new vice president and Ryan Calkins is now secretary.
Mohamed, who serves as director of the city of Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, was the first Somali woman elected to public office in Washington state and the first Black woman chosen to be on the port commission when she was elected in November 2021. She also became the first Black woman to serve on any of the 75 ports in the state.
Mohamed said she is thankful for the historic opportunity to take the helm and proud to represent the more than 2 million people of King County.
“Our port plays a crucial role in supporting the state’s economy and its people, functioning as a vital engine of prosperity and connectivity,” she said. “It is a hub of opportunities and we are dedicated to creating and sustaining these opportunities for current and future generations.”
She highlighted a record year for the port in 2023 and the approval of its largest budget yet, with $5.6 billion in capital development spending, an average of $1 billion a year for the next five years.
Mohamed said that the port continues to invest in electrification of its fleet and facilities, developing the maritime workforce and creating economic opportunity “throughout King County and beyond.”
