Jessica Thomas has served as Director of Security for the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) since March 2015. Her principal responsibilities are to ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state and local legislation and codes governing security, working with other departments, tenants, stevedores, longshoremen, visitors and contractors. She also develops policies and procedures to ensure compliance with security regulations and guidelines. In January 2021, she was appointed as a Director to the Houston Ship Channel Security District.

She previously worked for Unified Port of San Diego for 10 years as a Facility Security Coordinator.

She is a member of the Woman In Security organization, the Area Maritime Security Committee, the National Association of Waterfront Employees Security Subcommittee and Infragard Security Executives Special Interest Group. She is the Vice Chair of the Houston Ship Channel Security District.

She earned a B.S. in Maritime Administration from Texas A&M University-Galveston and an MBA in International Management from Columbia Southern University.