The Opportunity

Position: Secretary of Transportation, MDOT

MDOT Vision: To provide safe, reliable, accessible, equitable, and sustainable transportation options to Marylanders across the State.

Location: Hanover, MD

Reporting Relationship: Governor Wes Moore

Website: https://mdot.maryland.gov/

The Organization

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is the government agency that oversees and manages the state's transportation system, including highways, transit, aviation, ports, and more.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is made up of five modal administrations: the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA); the Maryland Port Administration (MPA); the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA); the State Highway Administration (SHA); the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) – and authorities that are a part of MDOT, including the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). This unique approach provides the state’s leadership with the ability to develop a coordinated and balanced approach to transportation.

Mission: The Maryland Department of Transportation is a customer-driven leader that delivers safe, sustainable, intelligent, exceptional, and inclusive transportation solutions in order to connect our customers to life’s opportunities.

Vision: To provide safe, reliable, accessible, equitable, and sustainable transportation options to Marylanders across the State.

Guiding Principles: These are concepts that will guide MDOT in its decision-making process to support the State’s goals for the transportation system in Maryland.

• Equity: Integrate equity considerations in all aspects of transportation planning, programming, and operational processes.
• Preservation: Preserve the condition of the existing transportation system assets to provide safe and efficient movement.
• Resilience: Improve the transportation system’s ability to provide reliable service throughout natural weather events and man-made threats.
• Modernization: Transform the transportation system by using proven technological improvements and exploring innovative new ideas.
• Experience: Improve the experience of all transportation system users.

Goals: These show, at the highest level, what MDOT plans to do by 2050. Together with the guiding principles they produce a vision of how the transportation system will serve Maryland, and the key outcomes MDOT desires for Maryland.

• Enhance Safety and Security: By protecting the safety of all residents, workers, and visitors, Maryland will achieve zero traffic related fatalities and serious injuries.
• Deliver System Quality: By investing to achieve system quality, MDOT will create an infrastructure program that is financially sustainable, environmentally resilient, and in a state of good repair.
• Serve Communities and Support the Economy: By expanding transportation options to allow Maryland’s diverse communities to access opportunities and to support the movement of goods, MDOT will expand transit and active transportation use, and bolster the State’s economy.
• Promote Environmental Stewardship: By minimizing and mitigating the environmental effects of transportation, Maryland will achieve a 20 percent reduction from 2019 in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita by 2050, a 40 percent reduction in on-road transportation sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2031 and move towards net-zero by 2045.

The Position

• Serve as the principal transportation advisor to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on statewide transportation policy, operations, and strategy.
• Lead the implementation of the Department’s Six-Year Consolidated Transportation Program and long-range planning initiatives in alignment with the Moore-Miller Administration’s priorities on equity, climate, workforce development, and economic opportunity.
• Oversee the development, financing, and delivery of infrastructure projects that are safe, efficient, sustainable, and community focused.
• Provide executive oversight of MDOT’s modes and ensure strong coordination across administrations.
• Ensure prudent management of the Transportation Trust Fund and capital and operating budgets.
• Represent the Department before the Maryland General Assembly, U.S. Congress, local and federal agencies, labor unions, advocacy organizations, and the business community.
• Serve as the public face of MDOT, ensuring transparency, accountability, and engagement with the people of Maryland.
• Lead MDOT’s emergency response efforts in restoring transportation systems following disasters or extreme weather events.
• Champion inclusion, accessibility, and equity in all facets of the agency’s work, including hiring, contracting, and service delivery

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, transportation, business, public administration, or related field.
• At least eight (8) years of significant executive-level leadership in a transportation, infrastructure, or similarly complex, multimodal organization.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing major capital programs, budgets, and multi-agency operations.
• Strong command of federal and state transportation law, policy, and funding mechanisms.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven track record in advancing innovation, workforce development, and organizational transformation.
• Master’s degree in engineering, public policy, public administration, transportation planning, finance, or a related field preferred.
• Familiar with Maryland’s political and transportation landscape.
• Knowledge of federal grants and funding streams, including IIJA and IRA programs.
• Experience in emergency management, resilience planning, or homeland security.
• Track record of advancing equity, climate action, and economic development through transportation investments.