USDOT personnel named; Lana Hurdle to serve as acting secretary

While Secretary of Transportation nominee Pete Buttigieg testified in a Senate Committee Thursday morning, the Biden Administration released additional members of the leadership team at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). 

Lana Hurdle, deputy assistant secretary for Budget & Programs, will serve as Acting Secretary of Transportation until Secretary-Designate Buttigieg is confirmed. Polly Trottenberg was nominated as deputy secretary of USDOT earlier this week. 

The initial team contains several who are designated as deputy administrator, which allows them to effectively lead their departments but does not require Senate confirmation.  

The administration noted the group will “bring unique perspective and vast expertise to the job.” Safety will remain central to USDOT’s mission while the department works to deliver on the Biden Administration’s vision of economic recovery, racial equity and combating climate change.

“This experienced team looks forward to getting right to work on behalf of the American people to deliver on policies and projects that will create jobs, equitably serve all Americans and meet the climate crisis,” said Carlos Monje Jr., senior advisor to the Secretary and acting chief of staff. “President Biden has been clear: Stronger infrastructure is a key to building our country back better than it was before.”

For the transit and commuter rail industry, several names will be familiar.

Nuria Fernandez, who stepped down from her role as general manager and CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority this week, was named deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). She previously served as acting administrator of the FTA in the Clinton Administration.   

Additionally, at FTA, Subash Iyer was named chief counsel. Iyer served as special counsel for Ethics, Risk and Compliance at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He is also a former clerk for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  

Amit Bose was named deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Bose’s experience includes serving as the director of legislative affairs at FRA, as well as deputy assistant secretary and associate general counsel at USDOT. Bose worked for New Jersey Transit and the New Jersey Department of Transportation early in his career. He was most recently employed by HNTB as associate vice president and program director.

Additionally, at FRA, Diana Lopez was named senior advisor to the administrator. Lopez was appointed to the U.S. Department of State in the Obama Administration and has senior management and legal experience at Empire State Development, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Gateway Program Development Corporation.

Stephanie Pollack, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary and CEO, has been named deputy administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Pollack will begin at FHWA on Jan. 27. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker noted Pollack’s accomplishments include implementing a data-driven Capital Improvement Plan and “saving the GLX project” that will extend Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line service to the inner northwest suburbs of Boston.

The complete list of USDOT members released by the Biden Administration includes: 

Amit Bose, Deputy Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration 

Ann Carlson, Chief Counsel, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Florence Chen, Special Assistant for Policy

Casey Clemmons, Special Assistant, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Steve Cliff, Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Christopher Coes, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy

Nuria Fernandez, Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration

Robert Hampshire, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

Maurice Henderson, Senior Advisor

Danielle Hirshberg, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations

Justine Hong, Director of Executive Secretariat

Robin Hutcheson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Safety Policy

Subash Iyer, Chief Counsel, Federal Transit Administration

Meera Joshi, Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Tatjana Kunz, Special Assistant for Policy

Lucinda Lessley, Deputy Administrator, Maritime Administration

Diana Lopez, Senior Advisor to the Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration

Irene Marion, Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights

Edward McGlone, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (House)

Philip A. McNamara, Assistant Secretary for Administration

A. Bradley Mims, Deputy Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration

Carlos Monje Jr., Senior Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff

Allie Panther, White House Liaison

Alex A. Peña, Special Assistant to the General Counsel

Carol A. (Annie) Petsonk, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

Stephanie Pollack, Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration

John Putnam, Deputy General Counsel

Will Rasky, Special Assistant for Governmental Affairs

Courtenay Raymond, Director of Scheduling and Advance

Andrew Rogers, Chief Counsel, Federal Highway Administration

Laura Schiller, Chief of Staff

Michael Shapiro, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy

Sophie Shulman, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy

Dani Simons, Assistant to the Secretary and Director of Public Affairs

Charles Small, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs

Mohsin Syed, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (Senate)

Charlene Wang, Special Assistant, Federal Highway Administration

Victoria Baecher Wassmer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance and Budget

Vinn White, Senior Advisor for Implementation

Laurence Wildgoose, Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment, Federal Aviation Administration