The Office of the Administrator was subject to the direction and under the supervision of the Board of Directors; and was the Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Commission. He exercised general and active control over the Commission's offices, business and operations, and general supervision over its officials, agents, attorneys, and employees.
The Administrators were: Dennis Philip McAuliffe, October 1, 1979-1989; Fernando Manfredo (Acting), January 1, 1990-September 1990; Gilberto Guardia Fabrega, September 20, 1990-August 17, 1996; and Alberto Aleman Zubieta, August 18, 1996-December 31, 1999. Zubieta, in 1998, was also appointed as the Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority in order to ensure that the decisions taken under the Panama Canal Commission would have continuity under the Panama Canal Authority after December 31, 1999, when the United States turned the Panama Canal over to Panama.
