Two Experienced Transportation Experts Join JAXPORT

From Left: JAXPORT's Senior Director of Engineering and Construction Kelsey Cox and FTZ and Grant Administration Manager Justin Ryan

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2022) – The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) announced today the addition of two experienced transportation experts.

Civil engineer Kelsey Cox, P.E., joins JAXPORT as Senior Director of Engineering and Construction. Cox fills the role previously served by James Bennett, P.E., who was recently promoted to Chief Operating Officer at JAXPORT.

As the leader of the port’s Engineering and Construction Department, Cox directs the port’s marine and landside infrastructure development and manages all engineering and construction operations related to capital improvements. In addition, she coordinates with federal, state and local agencies involved in managing and completing JAXPORT’s major growth initiatives, including ongoing projects to expand container and auto handling capabilities at Blount Island.

Cox is a licensed professional engineer with a decade of experience planning, developing and managing transportation projects. She previously served as Project Engineer for the City of Jacksonville’s Department of Public Works, responsible for planning and directing engineering and construction projects to maintain and improve city-owned properties and infrastructure. She managed over $1 billion in capital improvement projects and created engineering specifications for transportation-focused initiatives, including traffic improvements and roadway construction.

Experienced transportation expert Justin Ryan joins JAXPORT as Foreign Trade Zone and Grant Administration Manager. He is responsible for the development and growth of JAXPORT’s Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 64, which is a federally designated area that provides cost savings options for importers. Ryan also manages the port’s state and federal grant pursuits to support capital construction projects.

Ryan is an Accredited Maritime Port Executive (AMPE) with 15 years of seaport, planning and strategic project management experience. Most recently, he served as the Freight and Seaport Program Coordinator for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), supporting Northeast Florida’s freight and seaport infrastructure interests at the national, state and local levels. He was also involved in strategic planning to improve freight mobility and infrastructure and assisted in securing grants for Northeast Florida’s transportation network.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kelsey and Justin during this time of growth and opportunity for Northeast Florida’s transportation and logistics network,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “Their experience in transportation planning and development will be an asset to our team as we continue to strategically develop our facilities and grow our capabilities to serve our customers and community.”

Located in the Southeastern United States at the crossroads of the nation’s rail and highway network, JAXPORT is the global gateway to Florida, the nation’s third-largest state. Jacksonville offers two-way ship traffic with no berth or terminal congestion and same-day access to 98 million consumers.