Tom Drumm is settling in as the new executive director and CEO of the Oswego Port Authority.
“I came in got settled into my office (Monday, April 6), said hello to all the staff, some of the staff has been here for decades. Did a lot of first day stuff; updating some paperwork, getting all my technology set up. I just want to integrate with the staff. I’m just getting acclimated; nothing too crazy, I’m just settling in,” he said.
Drumm said he isn’t going to come in and implement any drastic changes right off the bat.
“Long-term one thing you’ll hear me talking about a lot is trying to bring the port into a new era; focus on areas where we can modernize the port, specifically with our infrastructure and making sure we are well-prepared a regional partner for some of the big projects, Micron for example.”
Drumm was elected to the county legislature a decade ago when he was 22. He was the youngest county legislator in the state. He served three two-year terms, becoming minority leader of the chamber’s two-person Democratic caucus. He has worked with the Syracuse Teachers Association and the New York State Democratic Committee. He also serves as Central New York regional director of intergovernmental affairs for New York Attorney General Letitia James.
It was mutual, he said explaining how he came to the position.
“I had heard rumblings that the board was going to be conducting a search for a full-time director; it piqued my interest. I reached out to a couple folks from the board just to explore what they were looking for in a new director and it kind of snowballed from there,” he said.
“This is going to be a new challenge for me, the opportunity for me to really sink my teeth into something and be a part of building something new and bring the port into kind of a new era of modernization,” he continued. “There is a lot of opportunity down here. The port is a full-time opportunity. I am leaving my role with the New York State Attorney General’s office where I have worked for about the last year and a half. This will be my full-time position.
“I am 33 now. In the research that we have done I am the youngest director currently leading a major port in the United States. It’s cool. I am proud of my professional career. This is kind of a culmination of my work to date. I have been the youngest guy in the room for a while now. That is cool for about a week and then, it’s let’s get to work. I’m proud to be here. I let my work do the talking. I think I can make an impact here.”
The long-term for him at the port over the next couple years is really making sure that the port is prepared for things like the Micron project.
He said he wants to update things from a technology standpoint but also from a brick-and-mortar standpoint.
He said he will prioritize strengthening the port’s relationships with state and federal agencies to secure the infrastructure investments necessary for long-term modernization and growth.
“That will really prepare us for whatever comes our way,” he said. “Like many ports and many businesses our business has been affected by the tariffs that are in place. One commodity, aluminum, is being tariffed at a 50% rate. We want to be a good player and help our partners as much as we can with what they are having to deal with with these tariffs.”
The mission of the Port of Oswego Authority is to serve as an economic catalyst in the Central New York Development Council District Region by providing diversified and efficient transportation services and conducting operations in a manner that promotes regional growth and development while being mindful of the responsibility to serve as a steward of the environment.
“I am honored to return to my roots to lead the Port of Oswego at such a pivotal moment in our region’s history,” said Drumm. “Having served at the intersection of state and federal policy and local impact, I understand how to align our maritime operations with the massive economic opportunities ahead, including the Micron project and the restart of the Novelis hotmill. My tenure working in and around government has prepared me to advocate fiercely for the infrastructure and investment our port deserves. We are entering a new era of maritime leadership — one that is transparent, strategically connected, and prepared to compete.”
