Business, Freight News, Logistics, People, Sea

New Commissioner DiBella Named FMC Chairman

[ February 11, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

President Donald J. Trump on Jan. 28 designated Laura DiBella to serve as chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.

DiBella was sworn in as a new commissioner about three weeks earlier; she was nominated by Trump Dec. 18 and confirmed by the Senate on Dec. 18 for a term expiring Sept. 30, 2028.

DiBella served as Florida’s first female secretary of Commerce, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, and president of business development at Commerce, where she was tasked with maintaining and improving Florida’s US$1.5 trillion economy. Before joining the FMC, DiBella worked as a government affairs advisor for Adams and Reese LLP.

She was made interim director of the Port of Fernandina Ocean Highway and Port Authority in 2017 while managing local economic development in Nassau County, Florida. She was appointed the first-ever executive director in November 2019.

The FMC chairman serves as CEO and chief administrative officer of the agency.

Tags: Federal Maritime Commission, Florida Department of Commerce, Port of Fernandina Ocean Highway and Port Authority