Ilya Espino de Marotta took office January 1 as Deputy Administrator of the Panama Canal, making history as the first woman to ever hold the position.

Mrs. Espino de Marotta began her career at the Canal in 1985 as the sole female engineer at its shipyard. She now works alongside more than 1,000 women and recently served as the Vice President of Transit Business and the Executive Vice President for Engineering during the Panama Canal Expansion Program.

“Ilya skillfully oversaw the construction of the Expanded Canal, leading the waterway into a new era for global shipping,” said Panama Canal Board of Directors Chairman Aristides Royo.

“It is a great honor to work alongside a visionary such as Ilya, and I am certain that she will continue leading the Canal into a new decade of inspired innovation,” said Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales.

The Panama Canal Board of Directors appointed de Marotta as Deputy Administrator on February 15, 2019. She succeeds Manuel Benitez who retires after more than 40 years with the Canal.