Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano presented the Panama Canal Expansion Program during his recent visit to Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas.
During the conference, Quijano highlighted the impact of the Panama Canal Expansion on the U.S. Gulf ports, focusing on those located in Texas.
“An important number of the vessels of various segments that transit the Canal today have as port of origin or destination the U.S. Gulf ports. Furthermore, once the Panama Canal Expansion is concluded there is also a great potential for exports of shale gas from this specific area that could use our waterway to markets in the Pacific,” Quijano said.
Local maritime sector including stakeholders from the ports of Houston and Beaumont-Port Author, Sabine Pilots Association, as well as Lamar University’s faculty and students attended the conference.
During a meeting of the Lamar University College of Engineering Advisory Council, Quijano, a Lamar University alumnus, received two awards in honor of his distinguished career in the Panama Canal. He was awarded the Texas Industrial Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his lifetime achievements and dedication to the industrial engineering profession. Dr. Brian Craig, chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering of the College of Engineering at Lamar University, presented Quijano with the award on behalf of the University of Texas - Arlington, the University of Texas - El Paso, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, University of Houston and Lamar University.
In addition and “as an expression of the high esteem from the Texas Senate,” Quijano also received a Texas Senate Resolution in which he was proclaimed an Honorary Citizen of Texas.
Quijano earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1973 and a Master of Engineering Degree in Industrial Engineering and Management in 1974 from Lamar University. He started his career with the Panama Canal in 1975. With more than 36 years of experience, he was appointed Panama Canal Administrator on September 4, 2012.
Lamar University has more than 14,000 students, offering more than 100 study programs for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Its College of Engineering was established in 1951.