Senate Confirms Two for US DOT Posts
The U.S. Senate on Aug. 5 confirmed two of President Obama's nominations to Department of Transportation administrator posts.
Marie Dominguez was appointed to head the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and Greg Nadeau was tapped to lead the Federal Highway Administration.
Dominguez had been principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works. She also served as vice president for government relations and public policy for the U.S. Postal Service from 2007 to 2013. She replaces Timothy Butters, who had been acting administrator at PHMSA. Butters moved to the Federal Aviation Administration to be a senior adviser.
Her nomination had earlier been applauded by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.).
“I have known Marie Therese for several years, and I fully support her nomination to be PHMSA administrator," Warner had said. "She brings years of experience in both private- and public-sector management. She has a strong background in infrastructure development and oversight through her work with the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program. As PHMSA administrator, she will be faced with very challenging issues, from pipeline safety to the safe transport of crude oil by rail. I know she will be up to the task.”
Nadeau has been deputy administrator at FHWA since 2009 and since July of 2014 he has served as the agency’s acting administrator. He took over for Administrator Victor Mendez, who was tapped for the deputy secretary post at DOT. Nadeau is a native of Lewiston, Maine, and a former adviser to Angus King when King was governor of Maine from 1992-2002.
Nadeau's nomination was supported by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who worked with Nadeau in her capacity as chair of the transportation subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Previously, Collins had said the nomination is “well-earned recognition of Greg’s expertise in transportation policy.”
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials called Nadeau "a proven leader."
"Greg is also a valued partner, who has teamed with AASHTO to develop practical transportation policies, advance safety and implement new cutting-edge technologies," said Bud Wright, AASHTO executive director. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Greg and the FHWA to make transportation in America stronger.”
It’s official! Gregory G. Nadeau is sworn in by @SecretaryFoxx to become 19th FHWA Administrator. pic.twitter.com/3UE14WWemM
— Federal Highway Admn (@USDOTFHWA) August 11, 2015
