Dive Brief:
- The Federal Highway Administration promoted its chief counsel, Kristin White, to deputy administrator after less than a year in her prior role, the agency announced last week.
- White, co-founder and former executive director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s connected and automated vehicles program, took on the new role May 20, according to the agency.
- White’s elevation fills the vacancy created by former Deputy Administrator Andrew Rogers’ departure in January. Rogers joined EpicWorks Advisors and LSN Partners, according to his LinkedIn.
Dive Insight:
Turnover at federal agencies is natural, particularly during an uncertain election year.
With the promotion, however, White can apply her considerable experience on the topic of autonomous vehicles in the agency’s No. 2 role.
“My goal is to continue to lead FHWA as we make the most of this once in a generation opportunity to make transformational investments in our nation’s transportation systems,” White said in the announcement.
Before joining FHWA, White was COO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), a nonprofit founded by Congress to advance safety and mobility through transportation technology and innovation.
“Throughout her career, Kristin’s passion for serving the American people and her commitment to building a better and brighter future has been evident in her work both in the private sector and here at the Federal Highway Administration,” FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt said in the announcement.
White is following in Rogers’ footsteps, as he was also a previous FHWA chief counsel before being named deputy administrator in February 2023.
Legal officers moving into broader executive-level roles is a recent trend across the public and private sectors in the trucking world: Top attorneys of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Werner Enterprises were also recently promoted to key leadership jobs.
