John T. Hanson first came to the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) in 2002 as a commissioner and chair of the board’s finance committee. In November 2004, he became the Authority’s Chief Financial Officer, a position he held until he was appointed acting Chief Executive Officer in January 2014 and Chief Executive Officer in May 2014. As CEO, Mr. Hanson emphasizes stewardship and public service as the core of the Authority’s mission and purpose. Mr. Hanson brings both public and private sector experience to the job. He was Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President of Finance for a healthcare firm in Cherry Hill, New Jersey until he joined the administration of New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman in 1998. He served as Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives with the New Jersey Department of Commerce and represented the Secretary of Commerce on the boards of numerous development authorities and task forces. In addition, he served on the New Jersey Sales and Use Tax Commission from 2000 to 2002. He returned to private industry in 2002 as Executive Vice President and General Manager of a New Jersey-based recycling/manufacturing firm, where he remained until coming to the DRPA in 2004.
The keystone of Mr. Hanson’s tenure as CEO has been the Authority’s strategic planning framework and its stewardship vision, mission and shared values which reinforce the Authority’s core business of transportation and its commitment to creating public value for those we serve.
Under Mr. Hanson’s leadership, the DRPA has experienced an organizational transformation rooted in the principles of stewardship, service and community. Focusing on strategic planning, continuous improvement and organizational development, John and his leadership team have cultivated a culture of collaboration and trust. As a result, the Authority has experienced strong financial and operational performance. The Authority has remained unwavering in its commitment to stewardship and has moved forward with its ambitious capital program, making unprecedented investments into DRPA bridges and PATCO to sustain the highest levels of service quality and system safety in operating, maintaining, improving and protecting our transportation assets and infrastructure. Mr. Hanson currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees of Camden County College in Blackwood. He was also the deputy mayor of the Borough of Audubon, New Jersey from 1997 to 2001. Mr. Hanson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in the State of New Jersey and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
