A lot of personnel changes happened over the past few weeks. Here’s a brief look at some changing leadership roles in the community.
ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE RESIGNS
Assistant Police Chief Michael Alanis announced his retirement after 20 years on the local force.
After a short break, Alanis said he will work for Sun Coast Resources Inc., helping cities, counties, and states during disasters. Sun Coast Resources is a fuel and lubrication company located on South Padre Island Drive. Alanis will coordinate between the company’s emergency operation center and first responders during natural or man-made disasters.
Alanis joined the Corpus Christi Police Department in January 1998. He worked his way up through the ranks while continuing his education. He received a bachelor’s degree and will earn his master’s degree this month. He served as captain for the department’s public information office before being promoted to commander then assistant chief of police under Police Chief Mike Markle in 2016.
NEW ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE NAMED
Commander David Blackmon is the new assistant chief of police, replacing Michael Alanis, who is moving on to a new career in emergency management. A 15-year veteran of the local police force, Blackmon most recently served as the Corpus Christi Police Department operations commander.
ANOTHER CCPD PROMOTION
Capt. William Breedlove is now Commander Breedlove. The 20-year Corpus Christi Police Department veteran heads the Narcotics Vice Investigations Division.
DRISCOLL PRESIDENT RETIRES
After 10 years of service, Steve Woerner announced his retirement as president and CEO of Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi. He will remain as a consultant for the next two years, assisting the Driscoll board with the leadership transition.
Under Woerner’s leadership, Driscoll opened new clinics across South Texas, including in Brownsville, Harlingen, Eagle Pass, Laredo, Victoria, and the Rio Grand Valley. He was also instrumental in creating the Global Institute for Hispanic Health and a pediatric kidney transplant program.
Headhunters Heidrick & Struggles will lead a nationwide search for Woerner’s replacement. Meanwhile, the position will be temporarily filled by Eric Harmon, the current executive vice president and chief financial officer.
STORMREADY HERO HONORED
Danielle Hale, the emergency manager for the Port of Corpus Christi was presented with the StormReady Community Hero Award for exemplary leadership that saved lives during extreme weather events.
According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials, the federal agency that grants the award, Hale helped protect her community as Hurricane Harvey made landfall Aug. 25, 2017, by activating the community’s emergency operations plan well in advance of the storm and remaining in continuous communication with all port partners and employees throughout the storm. After the storm, she ensured the safety and security of all essential port personal and facilities by assisting with search-and-rescue, damage assessments, and restoration activities.
“Hale’s actions allowed the port to reopen in a record six days with no fatalities,” reads a media release announcing the commendation.
“Danielle Hale and her family lost their home to Hurricane Harvey, all while her role as the Port of Corpus Christi manager of Emergency Management ensured our community and port were ready to weather the storm,” said Charles Zahn, Port of Corpus Christi commission chair. “We are proud of Danielle, her leadership, and her designation as a NOAA StormReady Community Hero.”
GUY WATTS RESIGNS
Controversial Del Mar College regent Guy Watts resigned his position representing District 4 as the board voted to launch into a fifth investigation into his behavior. A special meeting was held to accept his resignation within days of receiving his resignation letter. His current term expires in 2020. He has served on the board off and on since 1988.
Watts said he will now run for an at-large position on the board. He has been censured twice by the board, with a third censure in the works as he resigned this April. He has also been investigated four times, the fifth investigation also launched just prior to his resignation.
FORMER USS LEX DIRECTOR DIES
F.W. “Rocco” Montesano, who served as director of the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay for 20 years, died in mid-April. He retired from the position in 2017.
Montesano first came to Corpus Christi as commander of the Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi. He was also a Navy pilot in the 1970s.
Another former commander at NAS-CC, Steve Banta, took over as executive director of the Lady Lex in January.
TAMU-K PRESIDENT TO RETIRE
Steven Hall Tallant plans to move to Minnesota after retiring as president of Texas A&M University-Kingsville in December. The 69-year-old Tallant announced his retirement April 16. He was the 19th president of the university since 2008. He is the third-longest-serving president in the school’s history.
He has also served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
