AASHTO Board Elects Wyoming’s John Cox President and Iowa’s Paul Trombino Vice President

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Board of Directors today elected Wyoming Department of Transportation Director John Cox as the association’s president. Iowa Department of Transportation Director Paul Trombino III was elected vice president.

“I am honored to accept this important leadership role at a time when AASHTO is celebrating its Centennial year,” said Cox. “AASHTO has been there from the beginning, providing leadership to build the national transportation system we rely on today. As we enter our second century, AASHTO’s work is far from over. The nation’s aging transportation systems need to be maintained and modernized and that’s going to require greater investment.”

As president, Cox says his primary emphasis will be to advance a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization that closely reflects AASHTO’s policy objectives.

“Gaining passage of this essential piece of legislation cannot be accomplished by AASHTO alone,” Cox said. “Just as we’ve done in the past, the transportation community must work together with members of Congress and the American people to build consensus behind legislative proposals that can and must be enacted into law.”

Cox’s second emphasis area will be to explore the need to identify and advance reasonable opportunities to enhance state decision-making authority and limit federal regulation.

Cox was appointed director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by former Gov. Dave Freudenthal. He was reappointed director in 2011 by current Gov. Matt Mead.

Cox recently completed terms as AASHTO vice president and president of the 18-state Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Cox, who served 28 years in law enforcement, was the commanding officer of the Wyoming Highway Patrol from 1998–2005. Cox is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration.

Trombino III was appointed director of the Iowa Department of Transportation in May 2011. Prior to this position, Trombino worked at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for 17 years holding several positions, including director of the Bureau of Transit, Local Roads, Rails and Harbors. Trombino also spent four years in the finance and banking industry in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Trombino earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.