Jess J. Herrera
Commissioner
Jess Herrera has a long and dedicated record of service at the Port of Hueneme since 1966. He was first elected as Port commissioner in 1994 and has been elected board president eight times. He served twelve terms as executive officer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
He has been a leading advocate for dock workers and working conditions and enhancing working relationships among labor, port users, and the administration. He has served 8 years as Chairman of the ILWU’s Southern California regional Jurisdiction committee which, in addition to the Port of Hueneme, also included the Ports of LA, Long Beach, and San Diego. Jess recently retired from the ILWU on August 1, 2021, and was recognized for his 52 years of leadership.
During his tenure, he played a role in expanding the Port’s infrastructure including the addition of the South Terminal, Dock 2 and the Joint Use Agreement with Naval Base Ventura County providing strategic and economic benefit for both the Port and our military, which has resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs that have benefited the local economy.
Herrera is a lifelong native of Oxnard and a Vietnam-era Army Veteran.
He was recently recognized in the Ventura County Star’s ‘25 over 50’ group of community leaders whose vision, impact and talent have positively impacted Ventura County.