U.S. Department of Transportation Appoints Two New Members to WMATA Board of Directors

Both new appointees to the board will bring extensive backgrounds in U.S. transportation infrastructure, innovative financing, and federal regulatory policy. The two appointed Principal Directors with voting authority are David B. Horner and Steve McMillin, effective July 24, 2017.

“During this critical time for WMATA, we are pleased that these two distinguished and experienced individuals, David Horner and Steve McMillin, have agreed to serve on behalf of the Federal government to help improve the performance and reliability of this vital transit system in the nation’s capital,” said Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Horner is a partner at Hunton & Williams law firm in Washington, D.C., where he focuses on public-private partnerships and the development of transportation infrastructure in the United States. Horner has extensive transportation experience, including serving as the U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and Chief Counsel at the Federal Transit Administration from 2005 to 2009. He is widely recognized for his expertise in federal transportation law and has acted as counsel on multiple landmark public-private partnership projects, including the development of the FTA’s Public-Private Partnership Pilot Program that serves as a model for similar programs today.

“I’m honored to be chosen by Secretary Chao to serve on WMATA’s board,” said Horner. “Having grown up in the District, I’ve been riding Metro since it opened in 1976. I look forward to working with WMATA’s executive leadership and other members of the board to institute the fundamental reforms that will deliver safe and reliable service for Metro’s riders across the region.”

Steve McMillin is a partner at U.S. Policy Metrics in Washington, D.C. and brings more than 20 years of policy experience, including serving as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from 2006 to 2009. In that role, he was responsible for leading the development and execution of the federal government budget. McMillin also served as the deputy assistant to the president, and as OMB’s associate director for general government programs, responsible for budget and management oversight of six Cabinet-level agencies. McMillin is well-known for his extensive policy expertise.

“Metro faces a variety of challenges as it seeks to provide safe and reliable transportation options for the residents of this area, and for visitors from around the country and around the world,” said McMillin. “I look forward to the opportunity to help drive continued improvements in the system.”

The FAST Act, passed by Congress and signed into law in December 2015, transferred the authority to appoint Federal representatives to the WMATA board from the head of the GSA to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. 

Leaving the Board as Federal representatives are Carol Carmody, former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and David Strickland, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  

The Metro Board of Directors is composed of eight voting and eight alternate directors. Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and the federal government appoint two voting and two alternate directors each.