Meet Shawn

I’m Shawn Ensley, a lifelong Whatcom County resident, who grew up in Acme and Deming and graduated from Mount Baker High School.

After high school, I joined the United States Air Force Reserve, where I served 21 years and retired honorably in 2019. During my service, I worked in logistics and airport logistics, supporting mission‑critical operations that depended on planning, accountability, and infrastructure that had to work under pressure.

At the same time I was serving in the Air Force Reserve, I put myself through Bellingham Technical College, balancing military service, school, and work all at once. I earned an Associate degree in Instrumentation, building practical, trade‑based skills that led directly to a career working with my hands.

I’ve worked in the instrumentation and electrical field since 2004, including more than 19 years at the BP Cherry Point refinery in Blaine, where I currently work as an Instrumentation and Electrical Shop Foreman. My career has been hands‑on and safety‑critical—focused on keeping systems reliable, people safe, and work done right.

I’m a husband and a father, not a career politician. I understand what it takes to earn a living, support a family, and depend on strong infrastructure and good jobs in this community.

I’m running for Port of Bellingham Commissioner because I believe the Port should responsibly manage public assets to create real public benefit and long‑term private investment, supporting living‑wage jobs, reliable transportation, and a waterfront that works for the whole community.

I bring a working‑class perspective, real operations experience, and a commitment to making sure the Port delivers results that people can see and trust.