Port of Brownsville Awards Scholarships to 32 Graduating Seniors | |
The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) has awarded scholarships to 32 graduating high school seniors through the 2026 Port of Brownsville Scholarship Program, recognizing their academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to community service.
Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship upon enrollment in a college, university, or technical institution. Recipients were selected through a competitive process evaluating academic performance, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, work experience, and a submitted personal essay. The awardees represent 16 public and private high schools across the navigation district.
"Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on this important milestone," said Port Director and CEO William Dietrich. "The Port of Brownsville is proud to invest in the education and future success of our students, whose hard work, determination, and leadership will help shape the future of our region. We are honored to support the next generation as they pursue their academic and professional goals."
Established in 2020 by the BND Board of Commissioners, the Port of Brownsville Scholarship Program continues to expand its impact. To date, $224,000 has been awarded benefitting 224 students within the district.
| Chairman Guerra Concludes Tenure Focused on Growth and Community | |
As Chairman Esteban "Steve" Guerra prepares to conclude his service on the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Board of Commissioners, he reflects on his eight years of leadership marked by economic growth, regional opportunity and a commitment to serving the people of the Rio Grande Valley.
First elected to the Brownsville Navigation District Board in 2018, Guerra was appointed chairman in May 2022 and reappointed in 2024. During his tenure, he helped guide the Port of Brownsville through a period of continued growth and investment, while championing initiatives focused on sustainable economic development and the creation of quality jobs for the region.
A Brownsville native with a background in international business and economic development, Guerra noted that his decision to serve on the navigation district was rooted in a long-held belief in the port’s potential.
| | U.S. Sen. Cornyn Visits Texas A&M Manufacturing Hub at Port of Brownsville | |
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn visited the Texas A&M Rio Grande Valley Advanced Manufacturing Hub at the Port of Brownsville on April 10, for a roundtable discussion focused on workforce training and regional employment programs.
Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban "Steve" Guerra, Vice Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez, Secretary John Reed, Commissioner Ernesto Gutierrez and Port Director and CEO William Dietrich participated in the discussion alongside industry partners to advance collaboration in preparing the region's workforce for emerging job opportunities.
| FERC Approves NextDecade's Request to Increase Workforce | Editor’s Note: This article is originally featured at www.reuters.com | |
U.S. federal regulators on April 10, approved a request by NextDecade to increase the peak number of construction workers at its Rio Grande LNG project at the Port of Brownsville, according to a regulatory filing.
NextDecade told regulators that global geopolitical tensions had heightened demand for U.S. LNG, prompting developers to move quickly to bring new supply online.
The Iran war has led to global LNG supply challenges as the world's second-largest producer, QatarEnergy, has not been able to export the superchilled gas and has suffered damage to its plant, potentially taking 12.5 million metric tons out of global supplies for up to five years.
| Port of Brownsville Honor Guard rehearses the Presentation of the Colors at the Port of Brownsville Command Center, April 15. | Port Police & Security Dept. Establishes Honor Guard | |
The Port of Brownsville Police and Security Department has established an Honor Guard unit set to make its public debut at the Port of Brownsville State of the Port Address in June.
Composed of three dedicated officers, Army veterans Diego Zamora and Mario Garza, and Navy veteran Victor Gunnoe, all combat veterans, the Honor Guard reflects the department's deep commitment to honoring both country and community.
Representing the highest traditions of military and law enforcement service, the unit performs ceremonial duties with precision and dignity, holding its members to a higher standard of appearance, conduct, and training. Their presence at official ceremonies, memorials, community events, and dignitary visits reflects the pride, unity, and professionalism of the Port of Brownsville organization.
Central to their role is the proper handling of the United States flag, ensuring it is treated with the utmost care, never touching the ground, and folded according to strict ceremonial protocol. During presentations of the colors, the team executes coordinated movements that demonstrate discipline, unity, and reverence.
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BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
Sergio Tito Lopez
Vice Chairman
John Reed
Secretary
John Wood
Commissioner
Ernesto Gutierrez
Commissioner
Luis H. Villarreal, Jr.
Commissioner
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PORT OF BROWNSVILLE ADMINISTRATION
William Dietrich
Port Director & CEO
Port Administration
Contact Us:
Ph: 956.831.4592 / 800.378.5395
Fax: 956.831.5006
www.portofbrownsville.com
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May 16
Port of Brownsville's 90th Anniversary
May 20
BND Board Meeting
May 20 - 22
Expo Proveedores del Transporte y Logistica
Monterrey, Mexico
May 22
National Maritime Day
May 25
Memorial Day- Port Offices Closed
June 3
BND Board Meeting
| Proposed Refinery Moves Forward With FEED Engineering Phase | Editor’s Note: This article is originally featured at www.constructionreviewonline.com | |
A proposed multi-billion-dollar oil refinery at the Port of Brownsville advanced into a new phase of development on April 7, after Fluor Corporation said it had been selected to carry out early engineering work for the America First Refining project.
In a statement released the same day, Fluor said it had been awarded a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract for the planned facility, a step that typically precedes a final investment decision on large industrial projects.
According to Fluor, the FEED scope will define the refinery’s technical design, cost estimates, and execution plan, forming the basis for whether the project proceeds to construction. The company described the project as a "grassroots refinery", built from the ground up, rather than an expansion of an existing facility.
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