JOHN W. MURRAY

CEO & PORT DIRECTOR, PORT CANAVERAL

Port Canaveral has more than 7 million cruise passengers annually and is the world’s second busiest cruise port. With some 300 employees, it is one of Brevard County’s largest employers. In 2024, Port Canaveral handled more than 7.1 million tons of diverse cargo. Murray has served as CEO since 2016. Under his leadership, the port opened its largest cruise terminal, built or renovated more than 2,000 linear feet of commercial berth space, supported the maritime operations of commercial space launch providers and became North America’s first Liquified Natural Gas cruise port.

EDUCATION: Maine Maritime Academy (BS)

FIRST JOB: My first job was in food service, feeding the bun toaster at McDonald’s, admittedly a long time ago! I learned a lot about the importance of hard work, customer service and teamwork during my time there.

INDUSTRY TREND: A notable trend is the increasingly larger and more complex ships that require additional planning and innovative solutions from the Port. Royal Caribbean’s 250,000-ton Star of the Seas — the world’s largest ship set to debut from Port Canaveral — is a perfect example of the direction the industry is heading. To meet these challenges, Port Canaveral has launched the Port Canaveral Advantage, a five-year, $500-million capital improvement initiative that identifies short- and long-term goals, including expanding cruise terminals, innovative gangway solutions, additional parking, roadway improvements and more.