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Port Mansfield is a unique location for various reasons. Whether it is its proximity to its border, the location on a laguna, or the fact that is has residential leases, Port Mansfield and the Willacy County Navigation District are unlike any other port in North America. Subsequently, when the position for a Port Director was opened at the port, the board decided that someone with a diverse set of skills was needed. After receiving multiple applications and doing interviews, the task was provided to the current Port Director, Ronald "Ron" Mills. Here we will look at the experiences and skills that convinced the board of Ron's ability to lead the Navigation District.
A large portion of Ron’s maritime experience comes from his 27 years as a member of the Coast Guard. Much of his time was spent gaining unique experiences by traveling to 22 countries as a Team Leader/Representative of both the Coast Guard and State Department on counter narcotics and counter terrorism operations. His experience in managing personnel and reports aided him in his time spent helping found and develop the Colombian Coast Guard. His understanding of the narcotics activities and operations particularly along the Texas/Mexico border have proven to be a valuable asset for the port and it law enforcement capabilities. Furthermore, his time abroad gave Ron the chance to understand and appreciate different cultures which is a vital skill in South Texas.
Over 12 years of Ron's career were spent in Marine Safety assignments. These assignments included obtaining federal certification for Pollution Investigation, being a member of an extensively trained Hazardous Chemical Response team in the Port of Houston, a Certified Facilities Inspector, and as an Explosives Handling Expert. On top of those duties Ron also served as an Assistant Marine Inspector tasked with inspecting ships and barges for seaworthiness and safety across US flagged and international vessels operating in both domestic and foreign regions. These assignments in particular helped Ron to have an intimate understanding of how risky maritime activities can be regardless of the vessels being a ship, barge or a fishing boat while also granting him knowledge on ways to reduce the negative impact of these activities on both people and the environment.
Not long after retiring from the Coast Guard for a second time after having been recalled due to 9/11, Ron found himself working for a statewide concrete company. As the Safety and Operations Manager for the business, Ron was instrumental in ensuring that all of the company’s waterfront properties not only met but exceeded all federal safety and security standards. This position in particular granted him the opportunity to glean knowledge on how construction worked and quickly projects should actually take.
The next nine years would be spent working for two major players in the shipbreaking industry with positions ranging from Operations Manager to VP of Operations. In these positions, Ron would find himself learning production schedules, the intricacies of government contracts, and how to manage over 500 employees at once. His efforts to improve safety turned what is considered to be one of the most dangerous professions in the world into successful businesses capable of dismantling over 70 vessels without any loss of life.
Ship dismantling is another field where Ron got to experience the potential for businesses to create excess pollution but it was the first where he could directly implement practices at the corporate level to mitigate the odds of accidents occurring or minimize the impact of the pollution. His efforts were so effective that he appeared on National Geographic's reality series Break It Down's episode “Navy Tanker” where Ron was able to play a leading role in demonstrating that shipbreaking can be a safe, environmentally friendly, low pollution impact occupation. This exposure would also directly lead to Ron’s interest in the sustainability of business and the growing movement of greening the supply chain.
In March of 2024, Ron completed his 10th year as the Port Director in Port Mansfield and looks forward to a bright future for the port with its recent expansion into commercial operations and international partnerships. Ron was brought on by the Willacy County Navigation District with instructions to develop both the residential and commercial aspects of the port. So far, he has made tremendous strides for the residential community.
For example, throughout this period, he has helped the community increase its water storage capability by 50 percent and reconditioned the elevated water tower. He has also paved every designated street in the community and is currently building an 80 foot right of way road to limit commercial traffics impact on the residential community. Lease rates across the port were standardized and the East Port Subdivision that had set idle for more than a decade with no lots sold has finally sold out and a large number of very comfortable spacious homes are being constructed. All of this and more was done while also raising the Navigation District’s unrestricted cash value by almost 300% and more than doubling its net position.
The Port Director has also ensured that he is prepared for the position by taking classes and becoming one of the 80 or so people in the world who carry the prestigious Accredited Maritime Port Executive certification from the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives. He also ensured that his staff went to more training and obtained more qualifications than ever before to improve the quality of the organization as a whole. These actions will help the Navigation District as it pivots towards allowing more commercial development in the port.
Ron looks forward to continuing his work at the Port and helping develop Willacy County. To that end, he has no intentions of running for Congress again. His brief foray showed him the convoluted and intentionally divisive nature of party politics which he would gladly forgo in order to improve the lives of the residents in one of the poorest counties in the state through stimulating the economy and drawing attention to a nearly forgotten region.
