The V.I. Port Authority Board of Governors has selected Ava Penn as the agency's executive director after a recruitment process that included application review, finalist interviews and deliberation by the full board. The board approved the choice by majority vote.
Penn has led VIPA on an interim basis since March, when longtime executive director Carlton Dowe announced his retirement. VIPA said at that time that Penn had more than 30 years of government service and had served as the authority's director of financial affairs and acting director of property management.
The executive director oversees day-to-day operations and long-term planning at the territory's airports and seaports. Penn will inherit major capital and financing decisions, including airport redevelopment, marine-facility work and projects intended to improve safety, capacity and passenger service.
VIPA's announcement did not identify the final applicant pool, vote count, contract term or compensation. Those details remain important for evaluating the selection and the new director's performance commitments.
VIPA should publish the board vote, employment agreement, performance goals and regular project scorecards covering cost, schedule, safety and passenger-service results.
Source published September 18, 2026. Read the original reporting or release for the complete record.
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