Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that Kathryn Garcia, currently serving as her Director of State Operations, has been appointed as the next Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, taking over from Rick Cotton, who is retiring after more than eight years in the position.
Garcia, 55, previously served as New York City’s Sanitation Commissioner under Mayor Bill de Blasio and was a candidate in the 2021 Democratic primary for mayor. As Director of State Operations, she has overseen dozens of state agencies, guiding major infrastructure projects and emergency responses during extreme weather and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hochul highlighted Garcia’s accomplishments, emphasizing that she “helped us launch and advance generational infrastructure projects and rebuild our economy following the pandemic with an eye toward the future,” and described her as one of New York’s most talented public servants.
Hochul also announced that Jackie Bray, Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Operations, will take over as Director of State Operations, highlighting that she “has helped lead the State’s emergency management response through extreme weather, infectious disease outbreaks and threats to our public safety.”
Garcia will oversee a $45 billion, decade-long capital plan at the Port Authority, including an $11 billion rebuild of the Midtown Bus Terminal, upgrades to airports, and improvements to bridges and tunnels connecting New Jersey and New York. She described the role as “my problem solver,” adding that the agency’s work affects the daily lives of millions in the region while building for the future.
Outgoing Executive Director Cotton praised Garcia as “a superb choice,” highlighting her deep knowledge of government operations, judgment, and collaborative spirit. The Port Authority, governed jointly by New York and New Jersey, operates major airports, seaports, and regional bridges and tunnels, generating nearly $7 billion annually in revenue, with about $2 billion from tolls. Garcia is expected to begin her new role early next year.
