The new port commissioner for the Port of Houston Authority brings decades of leadership and regional expertise to one of the nation’s busiest ports. Michel Bechtel, former mayor of Morgan’s Point, Texas, has been appointed to the role, where his background in coastal protection, energy, and public service is expected to support continued growth, infrastructure development, and economic strength along the Gulf Coast.
Michel Bechtel, former mayor of Morgan’s Point, Texas, has been appointed to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Bechtel, a respected leader in coastal protection and the energy sector, retired after five terms as mayor of Morgan’s Point. He also previously served on the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Ports of Harris County.
Bechtel was appointed by the Harris County Mayors’ and Councils’ Association and succeeds Stephen H. DonCarlos, who recently completed his 12-year term-limited service on the Port Commission.
Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo expressed gratitude for DonCarlos’s years of dedicated service and welcomed Bechtel, stating, “I am grateful for the long service and indelible contribution of former Port Commissioner Stephen DonCarlos, and I am pleased to welcome Michel Bechtel to the Port Commission. Michel’s wealth of experience and knowledge of the unique aspects of our Gulf Coast, combined with his service as mayor of a neighboring city to the Houston Ship Channel, makes him an invaluable addition to the Port Commission. We are excited to have him aboard.”
Bechtel has long shown leadership and a dedication to public service. In 2021, Bechtel was appointed to the Gulf Coast Protection District Board of Directors by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and was unanimously elected as board president. He currently serves as vice president of the board. Bechtel is also a member and past president of the Harris County Mayors’ and Councils’ Association and holds board positions with the Bay Area Coastal Protection Alliance, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, and the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region. He is a member of the Chambers County Mayors Coalition and a former member of the Port of Houston Commissioners Community Advisory Council.
“I’m honored to join the Port Commission and grateful for the confidence placed in me by the Harris County Mayors’ and Councils’ Association. The Port of Houston is an essential driver of our region’s economy, and I’m excited to contribute to its continued success,” said Bechtel. “I look forward to working closely with our partners across the region to advance major projects that strengthen our infrastructure, support industry, and protect our communities. Together, we can keep the Port—and the entire Gulf Coast—moving forward.”
Bechtel is the president of Bechtel Exploration and Blue Moon Exploration. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Geophysics from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and a Master of Science in Petroleum Geology from the University of New Orleans. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the New Orleans Geological Society.
Port Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay and are not eligible for appointment after serving 12 years on the Commission.
Source: Port Houston
