The Virgin Islands Port Authority has a new leader at the helm. The VIPA Board of Governors appointed Ava Penn as interim executive director during a
The Virgin Islands Port Authority has a new leader at the helm. The VIPA Board of Governors appointed Ava Penn as interim executive director during a special board meeting held on Thursday in St. Croix, following the announced retirement of Executive Director Carlton Dowe. Dowe submitted his resignation letter on March 20, with a retirement date of April 10, and is currently on leave. Penn has taken over the day-to-day operations effective immediately.
Penn brings more than 30 years of government service to the role, having previously served as VIPA’s Director of Financial Affairs and Acting Director of Property Management. She will lead the authority until the Board appoints a permanent replacement. Dowe served two stints heading VIPA — from 2013 to 2016 and again from July 2019 through the present — overseeing major modernization and development efforts across the territory’s airports and marine facilities.
In other business at Thursday’s meeting, the board authorized an amended contract for professional services related to VIPA’s airport public-private partnership procurement project and approved the renewal of up to $60 million in property insurance coverage, effective April 1.
This article is based on a news release issued by the Virgin Islands Port Authority on March 27, 2026.
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