Greg Englin has been selected by the Kingston Port Commission to serve as executive director, officials announced during a special meeting Tuesday. November 26 will be Englin’s first day on the job.

The new executive director will make $115,000 annually, $12,000 less than he made at his previous position as director of operations and business development for the Port of Port Townsend.

Englin’s departure seemed to come as a bit of a surprise to the Port of Port Townsend as well. On Tuesday, Abigail Berg, director of finance for the Port of Port Townsend, said the port had yet to be given official notice of Englin’s forthcoming departure.

Port of Port Townsend Commissioner William Putney III said Englin’s departure, while a surprise to the port, was not the result of a strained relationship.

“We wish him well,” Putney said. “I’m sure that Greg is excited to be on the right side of the Hood Canal Bridge again,” the commissioner added, noting that Englin’s residence is on Bainbridge Island.

“He’s a very capable guy, he spent a lot of time and he was very successful at the Port of Seattle. I think he should do a good job there,” Putney added.

Englin said he was looking forward to serving the Kingston community.

“I’m really excited to join the community in a more active role and also work with the commission to support the Port of Kingston as well as the broader community and all the residents here,“ Englin said of his appointment.

Of the Port of Port Townsend, Englin said, “I’m leaving them, along with the rest of the staff in a pretty strong position compared to when I started and I think they’re going to continue on in that direction.”

As for the decrease in his annual salary, Englin said he was “totally good with it.” The improvements to his quality of life and the opportunity to work with the port, Englin said, far outweighed the salary decrease.

Port of Kingston Commissioner Mary McClure said the approximately seven-week long process to select a new executive director was not one that commissioners had taken lightly.

“We wanted to make sure that both staff and the community had an opportunity to have voices and understand what’s happening,” McClure said. “What we wanted was somebody who will be able to help lead the port into the next generation.”

—Nick Twietmeyer is a reporter with Kitsap News Group. Nick can be reached at ntwietmeyer@soundpublishing.com