The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) Board of Commissioners selected Sarah J. McCoy as the next chief executive officer of the Port of Virginia. McCoy has served as interim chief executive officer since January 2026.
The announcement was made by board chairman Bill Kirk at a special meeting, where the resolution designating the professional as the next leader of the VPA was unanimously approved.
“We spoke with many very capable and experienced leaders, both within and outside the maritime industry, around the world. We are very fortunate to have the best candidate for the position right here at the VPA. Sarah is an experienced and insightful business leader, and she possesses the vision and skills necessary to lead the Port of Virginia for the next decade, as we continue working to make the Commonwealth of Virginia the best place to locate your business,” commented Kirk.
McCoy, 40, joined the VPA 12 years ago. Before assuming the role of interim chief executive officer, she was general counsel of the VPA from 2017 to 2022 and subsequently served as chief administrative officer. In those roles she oversaw legal strategy, human resources, risk management, procurement, contracts and corporate governance.
“It is an honor for me to serve as chief executive officer of one of the Commonwealth’s main economic engines. We have the infrastructure, the personnel and the performance necessary to continue defining the future of American commerce, and that is precisely what we are going to do. I look forward to leveraging these advantages to attract businesses to Virginia and continue providing services to our customers and communities across the state,” expressed McCoy.
In 2025, the new chief executive officer led the team that helped the port renegotiate its lease contract for Virginia International Gateway and, in doing so, secured an agreed sale price for the terminal when the contract expires in 2065.
Additionally, she has been an integral part of the team leading the port’s $1.4 billion Gateway Investment Program, a capital construction campaign that will result in greater cargo and rail capacity at Norfolk International Terminals, the deepening and widening of the Port of Norfolk and navigation channels, and the conversion of Portsmouth Marine Terminal into a heavy-lift facility.
