BROWNSVILLE, Texas — May 21, 2026 — The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Board of Commissioners appointed Sergio Tito Lopez as Chairman and welcomed two new commissioners, marking a significant transition in leadership at the Port of Brownsville.
At its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the board also appointed its new officers: Commissioner Ernesto Gutierrez as Vice Chairman and Commissioner John Reed as Secretary of the Board.
Earlier in that meeting, Commissioner for Place 2, David A. Garcia, was administered the Oath of Office by Judge Leonel Alejandro. A first-term commissioner, Garcia succeeds Commissioner John Wood, who retired following years of dedicated service to the City of Brownsville, Cameron County, and the BND.
A longtime advocate for the Rio Grande Valley, Garcia brings decades of experience spanning federal, state, and local government, with a career devoted to advancing the projects and partnerships that strengthen South Texas.
At its previous meeting on May 13, 2026, the board welcomed Commissioner for Place 4, Luis H. Villarreal, Jr., who was administered the Oath of Office by former Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. A first-term commissioner, Villarreal succeeds Commissioner Esteban Guerra, who served the district from 2018 to 2026 and chose not to seek reelection after eight years of dedicated service.
Villarreal spent seven years in the Texas Senate before building a career in commercial development, healthcare initiatives, construction, and business operations across South Texas, contributing to planning and community-focused economic growth throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Garcia and Villarreal will serve as Assistant Secretaries of the Board.
With extensive knowledge in the transportation and logistics business, Lopez was first elected Commissioner for Place 5 in 2008.This marks his third time serving as Chairman, having previously held the role from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2020 to 2022.
Gutierrez, a graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in Political Science, was elected Commissioner for Place 1 in May 2024 and brings a focused commitment to economic growth, job creation, and attracting new enterprise to the port.
Reed, elected Commissioner for Place 3 in May 2008, draws on more than 35 years of banking, civic, and business experience to support the port’s financial strength, infrastructure, and pro-business environment.
The BND serves as the elected authority for the Port of Brownsville, setting policy and financial direction for the port.
Commissioner David A. Garcia, Place 2, stands alongside his wife and son as he is administered the oath of office by Judge Leonel Alejandro at the BND regular board meeting held May 20, 2026, in the BND boardroom.
Commissioner Luis H. Villarreal Jr., Place 4, is joined by his wife as he is administered the oath of office by former Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. at the regular board meeting held May 13 in the BND boardroom.
About the Port of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville is the only deep-water seaport directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and encompasses 40,000 acres – the largest land-owning public port authority in the country.
The port transships more steel into Mexico than any other U.S. port and is home to premier energy, shipbuilding, and ship recycling industries. It ranks No. 41 among the Top 150 U.S. maritime ports for waterborne cargo, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
As the major multimodal transportation hub serving the Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico, the Port of Brownsville supports investment opportunities and jobs. Activity at the port is responsible for adding more than $1 billion to the Rio Grande Valley regional economy and more than $12 billion to the Texas economy, and the creation of more than 100,000 jobs statewide. For more information visit www.portofbrownsville.com
