Leadership

Captain John W. Murray is a highly respected maritime executive with over four decades of senior leadership experience in the maritime industry, including serving as president and chief executive officer of Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC, the U.S.-flag shipping subsidiary of Hapag-Lloyd AG, a leading global liner shipping company.

Since his appointment in 2016 as Chief Executive Officer of the Canaveral Port Authority, Capt. Murray has shaped the strategic mission of the Port and implemented numerous operational improvements to lead the Port to historical high levels of performance. Under his leadership, Port Canaveral has opened its newest and largest cruise terminal - the biggest construction project in the Port's history; expanded and improved five other Port cruise terminals and berths to accommodate newer and larger cruise ships; established Port Canaveral as North America's first LNG cruise port; deployed advanced ground transportation protocols and improvements in port safety and security, and launched three significant berth renovation projects totaling over $148 million to accommodate the Port's growing and diverse cargo portfolio. During his tenure, the Canaveral Port Authority has increased its revenues earned from all Port operations from $77.7 million in 2015 to a record high of $190 million in 2023.

A U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, Capt. Murray earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nautical Science from the Maine Maritime Academy. He has been a member of the National Cargo Bureau since 1997 and is currently serving as Board Chairman. He was elected to the American Bureau of Shipping in 2016, and appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Transportation Research Board. Capt. Murray has testified before the U.S. Congress as a subject matter expert in maritime industry management and vessel operations in a global economy. His additional professional affiliations include a long-standing member of the National Defense Transportation Association, the Navy League of the United States, the Council of American Master Mariners, and the International Propeller Club chapters in Washington, D.C., Tampa and Port Canaveral, Florida.

Dr. Jeff Long is the Chief Financial Officer for the Canaveral Port Authority. A well-respected finance executive, Dr. Long brings to the Port 35 years of experience in finance and operational management, capital funding and debt service, strategic long-range planning, public accounting, and financial auditing.

Prior to joining Port Canaveral, Dr. Long spent more than a decade as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Auburn University Harbert College of Business in Alabama where he also served as Assistant Dean, Finance and Administration.  Prior to his tenure at the university, Dr. Long was the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Port Director for Port Canaveral where he led financial strategies which increased port revenues by 54% over a three-year period. 

Dr. Long’s professional experience includes as a Senior Accountant with the public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, Senior Director of Finance, Administration and Operations for ESPN, and Vice President of Finance and Controller for The Golf Channel.

Dr. Long holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Auburn University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Auburn University. He is a Florida and Alabama Certified Public Accountant.

Samantha Cornelius joined the Canaveral Port Authority team in March 2017 as Assistant Director of Cargo Business Development. She is responsible for attracting new cargo investments to Port Canaveral, develop, maintain, and negotiate customer contracts and ensure retention of existing business. She also is responsible for managing the Port’s Foreign Trade Zone #136.

Prior to handling trade development for Canaveral, Samantha served as Senior Customer Service Manager Government Cargo for global shipping line Hapag Lloyd, where she worked for eighteen years. She has extensive experience handling Department of Defense imports and exports. Samantha has a degree from Hillsborough Community College and holds multiple certifications from DigitalMarketer. She is a member of the National Defense Transportation Association.

David German is Vice President, Cruise Business Development for the Canaveral Port Authority. He plays a key role in building the Port’s business relationships with current and future cruise partners, working closely with cruise line executives and key decision makers to develop their business lines and itineraries for Port Canaveral.

David’s maritime education, industry experience, and customer service background are fundamental to Port Canaveral’s successful collaborations with its cruise partners and key to sustaining this vitally important segment of the Port’s business portfolio.

The business alliances Port Canaveral has with cruise lines for both homeported and port-of-call vessels has made the Port the second busiest cruise port in the world with well over seven million cruise passenger movements projected for this year. The Port’s growth and popularity has been recognized by the cruise travel industry trade with awards and accolades, including “Best U.S. Cruise Homeport” and “Best Cruise Port in the World” by global travelers.

Prior to his promotion to Vice President, Cruise Business Development, David had served as the Director, Cruise Business Development. He joined Port Canaveral in March 2005 as Port Operations Manager and was subsequently promoted to Senior Harbormaster where he managed the Port's maritime operations.

David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marine transportation and logistics from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (class of 2003) and earned an MBA in finance from Ohio University. He is a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed mariner with several at-sea years of experience aboard various commercial vessels.

William Crowe, Vice President, Engineering, Construction and Facilities, is a 20-year veteran of marine and heavy civil project implementation with a breadth of experience in deep-water port cruise and cargo operations. His current role focuses on strategic planning and management of the Port Authority's engineering, construction and facilities maintenance functions.

Bill's past assignments have included construction management and inspection of large marine, civil and industrial projects, including cruise terminal new builds and expansions; cargo terminal development (container, bulk and liquid bulk); feasibility studies and strategic planning initiatives and capital budget development and inter-agency development initiatives. In addition, Bill has experience in the design and environmental permitting of upland dredge material management and dredging of inland waterways including inlet and port facilities, land-development projects, medium and large subdivisions.

He is a certified PADI advanced open water, nitrox and rescue diver and has both the TWIC and OSHA 10-hour credentials.