Executive Director

Email: rdubois@lamar.edu

The new Director of the Center for Advances in Port Management at Lamar University is Robert Dubois. Rob hails from Miami Florida and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida before joining the United States Coast Guard.

Work Experience and Education

As a young Coast Guard (CG) deck and engineering officer at the Marine Safety Office in Port Arthur Texas, Rob inspected oil tankers, cargo vessels, and offshore drilling units, led an armed foreign vessel boarding team, investigated collisions, allisions, groundings, and oil spills, and prosecuted administrative hearings as the Chief of the Investigation department.

Rob’s next assignment was Navy Flight school where he graduated first in his class in academics, earned his Navy Wings, and then went on to pilot CG Falcon Jets all over the US, Caribbean, Central, and South America doing Search and Rescue (SAR), migrant and drug interdiction, marine environmental protection, and fisheries enforcement.

As a CG falcon jet pilot, Rob earned an MS with distinction in aeronautical science and system safety from Embry Riddle University, and after two Pilot tours, the CG selected him to attend a full-time mid-career graduate program at Harvard University where he earned an MPA in public policy, economics, and leadership.

After graduating from Harvard, Rob transferred to CG Headquarters in Washington DC and became the CG’s lead performance budget analyst. Shortly after September 11th Rob was promoted to Chief of CG Plans and Policy where he briefed the House select committee on Homeland Security and worked with his team to protect our national infrastructure and integrate the CG into the newly forming Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

After a productive tour in Washington DC, Rob’s career circled back to Port Arthur, Texas (Rob’s wife Rachael grew up in Groves!) where he facilitated National energy independence by reviewing and approving Cheniere, Exxon Mobil, and Sempra LNG waterway suitability assessments.

Rob and his team also helped our region and waterway recover from devastating hurricanes and partnered with Jefferson County and the Navigation district to fund armed boats to further protect critical infrastructure and ships on the Sabine Neches waterway.

When Rob retired as a CG Commander with 21 years of service, Royal Dutch Shell asked him to build a best-inclass security program during the construction of our Nation’s largest refinery at Motiva in Port Arthur.

For the next 12+ years, Rob and his team improved CG facility plans, Shell and Saudi Aramco Security policy, and built, and re-designed smart, cost effective infrastructure to protect Motiva refinery and its marine terminals. Rob also serves on Maritime Boards and Industry Committees in our region and taught Exxon Mobil risk management and OSHA courses at ISTC.

Personal Info

Rob’s beautiful bride of 32 years, Rachael, is a Lamar alumni and instructor in the communications department. They live in Port Neches Texas, and they have two amazing children. Elizabeth is a writer, musician, and English professor at Rutgers University and John graduated from the University of Texas with an environmental sustainability degree and works in Austin Texas where he enjoys outdoor life.

Rob has a passion for surfing, music, and reading, and enjoys travel with Rachael and camping in their RV with their k9 friends, Charlie, and Annie.