Maryland Port Administration Executive Director Jonathan Daniels is leaving the Port of Baltimore to become the Port Director and CEO of PortMiami, the state transportation department announced Tuesday. Daniels will step down effective mid-August, with Deputy Transportation Secretary Samantha J. Biddle set to serve as interim executive director while a nationwide search for a permanent replacement gets underway. The move shifts one of the nation's most experienced port executives between two of the country's largest port operations.
In a press release via the Maryland Department of Transportation, Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson praised Daniels for leading the port through the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and confirmed his hire at PortMiami. The release quoted Daniels saying he made "a very difficult decision" to accept the Miami job because of his "strong interest in the cruise industry and PortMiami's strength as the cargo gateway of the Americas." The department said the transition will take effect in mid-August and that a nationwide search for Daniels' successor will begin immediately.
Daniels' port résumé
Daniels brings more than 30 years of maritime and economic development experience, with leadership posts at Port Everglades and the Mississippi State Port Authority, among others, according to the Maryland Port Administration. The agency notes he was named executive director in December 2023 and assumed leadership of the Port of Baltimore in early 2024. Industry reporting during his Port Everglades tenure described Daniels as a hands-on leader on cruise and cargo projects, and his background includes roles in Gulfport, Oswego, Baton Rouge, and Eastport.
Baltimore's rebound under Daniels
Under Daniels the Port of Baltimore has regained momentum after the Key Bridge collapse, handling roughly 50 million tons of cargo in 2025, its second-best year on record, according to the Maryland State Archives' port profile. That rebound has included record container moves at the Seagirt terminal and strong roll-on and roll-off volumes that underscore the port's role in regional supply chains. State and port officials say those gains highlight the resilience of Baltimore's terminals and the effectiveness of ongoing recovery and modernization efforts.
Why Miami matters
PortMiami, long billed as the "Cruise Capital of the World" and an increasingly important cargo gateway, will be Daniels' new home, giving Miami-Dade a director with deep cruise and cargo credentials. The port has seen recent turnover and a contentious dispute over a proposed purchase of a private fuel yard, which prompted departures earlier this month, as reported by the Miami Herald. Daniels steps into the job with the task of steadying relations with cruise lines, county leadership, and cargo partners while advancing PortMiami's growth agenda.
What comes next in Maryland
Deputy Transportation Secretary Samantha J. Biddle will serve as interim executive director while Maryland conducts a national search, and state officials said her experience in planning and agency leadership will be important during the transition. The Maryland Department of Transportation executive leadership page outlines Biddle's work since joining state service in 2014 and her deputy role beginning in 2023. Officials did not provide a specific start date for Daniels in Miami beyond the mid-August timeframe.
