Jonathan Daniels - Director and Chief Executive Officer

PortMiami is recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World® and Cargo Gateway of the Americas®. Its location at the center of the Western Hemisphere makes the port a leading hub for global commerce and tourism and significant conduit for international trade and commerce.

On June 23, 2026, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava appointed Jonathan Daniels Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PortMiami. Mr. Daniels oversees the growth and development of the world's leading cruise port and one of America's premier container ports. PortMiami generates more than 340,000 jobs and has an economic impact of $61 billion.

Mr. Daniels is a transformational maritime and hospitality executive with more than three decades of global experience leading complex, multi-billion-dollar port, cruise and destination operations. Recognized for building inclusive, high-performing cultures and steering organizations through strategic growth, crisis recovery and sustainable modernization. A collaborative and inspirational leader who champions operational excellence, guest experience innovation and environmental stewardship – driving world-class performance in every aspect of port and transportation operations.

He served as Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration and the Port of Baltimore. He oversaw and managed the six state-owned, public marine terminals of the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. The marine terminals handle autos, breakbulk, containers, cruise, farm and construction equipment and forest products. Mr. Daniels helped lead the Port's response and recovery following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, working with government and industry partners to restore operations and support customers during one of the most significant disruptions to a U.S. port in recent history. Under his leadership, the Port achieved a record year for container activity in 2025.

Prior to that, he served as CEO and Port Director of Port Everglades, one of the busiest cruise and cargo ports in the U.S. Mr. Daniels led a $3 billion strategy to expand cargo, cruise and energy operations. Port Everglades is the 13th busiest container port in the U.S., the busiest energy port in Florida and the third busiest cruise homeport in the world.

Previously, Mr. Daniels was executive director and CEO for the Mississippi State Port Authority. He also served as executive director of the Port of Oswego in New York, managing director for the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana and as port director of the Eastport Port Authority in Maine.

Mr. Daniels earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science – International Politics and Foreign Affairs from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina and continued his education at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine.