If the Port of Mobile were a living, breathing organism, Captain Terry Gilbreath would be part traffic controller, part air-traffic control, part chief safety officer — and part steady hand on the wheel when things get complicated.
Today, Captain Terry Gilbreath serves as General Manager of Safety, Security, and Harbor Operations for the Alabama State Port Authority, a role that places him squarely at the intersection of vessel traffic, workforce safety, regulatory compliance, and port security at the Port of Mobile.
It’s a job that demands calm under pressure, long-range thinking, and deep operational experience — all of which Terry brings in spades.
From West Texas to Deep Water
Terry’s path to a maritime career was anything but predictable.
He grew up in Crosbyton, Texas — a small West Texas town not too far from Lubbock, of roughly 1,200–1,500 people. Before joining the Coast Guard, he had never been on an airplane and had only seen the ocean once. His first major leap took him far from home to Connecticut, where his maritime career began in earnest.
One month after his high school graduation in 1979, Terry entered the United States Coast Guard Academy, embarking on what would become a 25-year career. His first four years after graduation were spent doing maritime law enforcement on two cutters. First in Gulfport, MS, and then Miami Beach, FL. His later assignments took him across the country and the Caribbean, including tours in Connecticut, Kentucky, the Bahamas, Washington DC, Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico, and two separate assignments in Mobile. He has been the Captain of the Port in two different ports and was one of the incident commanders for the Coast Guard response to Hurricane Katrina.
Along the way, Terry earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in physics — a detail that surprises many but makes perfect sense when you see how methodically he approaches complex systems and risk management.
When he retired from the Coast Guard at the rank of Captain, he didn’t step away from maritime service. Instead, he doubled down.
Seventeen Years as Harbormaster — and Counting
Terry has now served as Harbormaster for 17 years, overseeing the movement of vessels in and out of Mobile’s busy harbor. In simple terms, the Harbormaster controls vessel traffic — but in practice, it’s a constant exercise in coordination and judgment.
Every ship entering the harbor requires two tugboats. On any given day, there are six operating tugs and seven bar pilots available. With that finite capacity, vessel movements must be carefully sequenced and managed to keep commerce flowing safely and efficiently. The biggest change in the last 17 years has been the size of the vessels. Our port requires one-way traffic several times per day due to the beam of the larger container ships, tankers, cruise ships, and coal ships. This requires constant changes in vessel schedules.
The harbor itself is a mix of operations: roughly 60–70% Alabama State Port Authority terminals and about 30% privately operated facilities. That blend adds complexity, requiring close collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
As Terry puts it, the goal is simple — keep people safe and cargo moving — but the execution requires precision.
Safety, Security, and Accountability
One of the most visible changes Terry has implemented is the port’s upgraded badging and access control system. Every person entering port facilities must badge in, creating a real-time record with date and time stamps supported by camera coverage.
The benefits go well beyond security. In the event of an evacuation, the system provides muster capability — allowing port leadership to quickly identify who is on site and who has not yet been accounted for. It’s a powerful example of how thoughtful security measures can also enhance worker safety.
This layered approach to safety and security reflects Terry’s Coast Guard roots: disciplined, proactive, and always focused on preparedness.
Grounded Leadership
Despite the scale and responsibility of his role, Terry is quick to credit balance as the key to longevity. Outside of work, he spends time outdoors – hiking, fishing, and rafting. He believes staying grounded requires attention to health and faith — principles that have guided him through two careers and decades of leadership.
Notably, Terry has only had two jobs in his life: the United States Coast Guard and the Port of Mobile. That kind of professional continuity is rare, and it shows in the institutional knowledge and steady leadership he brings to the waterfront every day.
A Longstanding Commitment to the Propeller Club
Terry has been a member of the International Propeller Club, Port of Mobile, since 2008 and currently serves as the club’s Secretary. The Alabama State Port Authority itself is well represented, with 15–20 members actively involved in the club.
His participation underscores what the Propeller Club does best: bringing together professionals who care deeply about the port, the people who work there, and the future of maritime commerce in Mobile.
Why He Matters
Captain Terry Gilbreath occupies a role most people never see — but one that touches every vessel, every dockworker, and every ton of cargo moving through the Port of Mobile.
By bridging military command experience with civilian port operations, he helps ensure that one of Alabama’s most critical economic engines operates safely, securely, and efficiently — day in and day out.
And if you ask him, he’d probably say he’s just doing his job. The rest of us know better.