Gov. Ron DeSantis leaned on a local aerospace company’s CEO to fill the void left after Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Wayne Justice died in November.

Carol Craig, founder and CEO of Cape Canaveral-based Sidus Space, was announced Tuesday as Justice’s replacement to sit on the five-member board and was sworn in during Wednesday’s commission meeting.

While the port recently was recognized as the world’s busiest cruise port, besting PortMiami for only the second time based on fiscal year financial statements, it also has the unique role of supporting the aerospace’s industry’s burgeoning launch activities such as rocket booster recovery.

Sidus Space describes itself as “a pioneering multi-faceted Space Infrastructure-as-a-Service satellite company dedicated to advancing the frontiers of space exploration, satellite deployment, and space-based data collection.”

Craig is also founder and CEO of Craig Technologies and a Navy veteran who served as a naval flight officer during her military career. She serves as a member of National Defense Industrial Association and the Florida Institute of Technology College of Engineering Advisory Board, and had previously served as a member of the CareerSource Brevard Board of Directors and the Florida Chamber Small Business Council.

She has bachelor’s degrees in computer science from Knox College and computer science engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology.

The board also voted to install commissioners Jerry Allender as the new chair, Fritz VanVolkenburgh as vice chair and Kevin Markey as the new secretary/treasurer.

Justice died on Nov. 8 in the midst of his third elected term to the commission. He was recognized at the beginning of the meeting for his service with a commission resolution “honoring the life of service” of the retired rear admiral who had a 37-year career with the Coast Guard and 11 years on the port commission.

The resolution declared Justice “faithfully served this organization with vision, integrity, unwavering dedication” and as a three-time board chairman “was a steadfast advocate of the port and proud ambassador of the maritime industry, providing exemplary leadership and inspiring growth, unity and purpose.”

It went on to state “his community extended beyond professional duties, touching the lives of colleagues and all who had the privilege of knowing him leaving an enduring legacy and serving as a shining example to others.”

“His passing on November 8 leaves a profound void in our hearts and in the life of this organization,” it continued. “The Canaveral Port Authority does hereby honor the memory of Chairman Wayne Justice for his outstanding service, leadership and friendship.”

His widow Barbara was presented with a plaque of the resolution as well as Justice’s gavel from his most recent tenure as chairman.

“Wayne’s world was defined by his unwavering passion for the United States Coast Guard, yet his heart and his home were forever anchored in Port Canaveral,” she said. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who shared his journey and now share in our healing.”