Sarah McCoy has been formally elevated from interim to chief executive and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, following her April 2026 State of the Port address. A veteran of the agency for 11 years and its former chief counsel, McCoy now leads one of North America’s top container gateways—Virginia ranked sixth among U.S. container ports in 2025 with 3.24 million TEUs. Her appointment underscores a broader trend of institutional continuity amid geopolitical volatility, tariff uncertainty, and accelerated infrastructure investment—including the deployment of uniquely configured ship-to-shore cranes unmatched elsewhere in the U.S. container port network.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Just weeks after she had delivered her first State of the Port address in April, the Virginia Port Authority had seen enough – elevating Sarah McCoy from interim leader to its new chief executive and executive director.
New Leadership in a Time of Geopolitical Uncertainty
The 11-year agency veteran and former chief counsel lands as one of the new generation of North American port leaders in an era where chaos, change and geopolitics go hand-in-hand with planning, infrastructure and investment. Virginia ranked sixth among U.S. container ports in 2025, moving 3.24 million TEUs.
Strategic Investment and Infrastructure Distinction
Prior to her title change, McCoy spoke with FreightWaves at the port event.
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Source: FreightWaves
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
