General Counsel

Katie Thomson became the Department's General Counsel on April 9, 2014.  Katie previously served as Acting General Counsel and also as the Chief Counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration. From April 2009 to her appointment at FAA, Katie served as Counselor to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, where she was the Secretary's principal advisor on energy, climate, and environmental matters. Katie led the Transportation Department team that developed historic joint fuel/greenhouse gas emission standards for passenger cars and trucks and heavy duty vehicles. These new standards, taken together, will nearly double the fuel economy of passenger vehicles by 2025 and reduce oil consumption by more than 2.2 million barrels per day.

Katie played a critical role in the development and implementation of President Obama's Blueprint for a Security Energy Future and represented the Department at the 2009 and 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conferences in Copenhagen and Durban.

During her tenure at the Department, Katie spearheaded a number of other priority interagency projects, including: the negotiation and development of a new, long-haul, cross-border trucking program with Mexico; and the implementation of the U.S. strategy for responding to the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme as applied to international aviation.

Katie also served as the Department's Senior Sustainability Officer. In that capacity, she was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Department's strategic energy and sustainability targets.

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Katie practiced for 19 years at the law firm of Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C. As a partner in the firm's environmental group, she focused on civil and criminal litigation, compliance counseling, and regulatory advocacy — with an emphasis on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, hazardous waste management spill reporting, and hazardous materials transportation enforcement and compliance matters.

A graduate of University of Illinois (summa cum laude) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Katie resides in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband Chris Lu. In her free time, she is an avid marathoner and triathlete.

Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement

From 2010 to 2013, Ms. Sinniger served as Office Chief in the Office of Regulations and Administrative Law for the Coast Guard Judge Advocate General, leading an office of 15 attorneys and 3 administrative assistants.  She advised senior Coast Guard leadership on all aspects of rulemaking, liaising with the Department of Homeland Security, other Executive Departments, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.  Prior to this position, she served as one of two senior attorneys/ team leaders in the same office.  She served as project counsel for teams assigned to several economically significant rulemakings for the Coast Guard, including the creation of 33 CFR Subchapter H (the Maritime Transportation Security Act regulations), the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) projects, implementing ballast water discharge standards, and establishing inspection standards for towing vessels.  She worked in the Coast Guard’s Office of Regulations and Administrative Law since January of 2000.  Prior to that, she served as an Honors Attorney with the Department of Transportation.

Ms Sinniger received her J.D. from William and Mary School of Law in 1998, and her B.A. in Politics from The Catholic University of America in 1995.  She is married to David, an ex-Navy surface warfare officer and current defense contractor.  Together, they direct the very dramatic lives of Rachel, Sara, and Josephine.  Ms. Sinniger is a Rhode Island native, and spends as much time as possible visiting friends and family in the Great Ocean State.

Director, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Fern F. Kaufman is the Director of the DOT Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, where she is responsible for training and education, neutral services, and dispute resolution design and evaluation.  Ms. Kaufman mediates two-party and multi-party disputes, coaches managers and employees on improving communication and conflict management skills,  and provides training in basic and advanced communications, interest-based problem solving, facilitation, and conflict management. Ms. Kaufman also represents the Department at conferences and seminars and on the Steering Committee of the Attorney General's Interagency Dispute Resolution Working Group.  Ms. Kaufman previously served DOT as an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for Dispute Resolution at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Before DOT, Ms. Kaufman was Director of the Collaboration and ADR program at the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).  At the FLRA, Ms. Kaufman provided alternative dispute Resolution services in pending unfair labor practice, representation, negotiability and bargaining impasse disputes and provided facilitation and training activities to assist labor and management in developing constructive approaches to conducting their relationships.  Prior to FLRA, Ms. Kaufman was Deputy Director of Mediation services at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), where she directed the Federal Sharing Neutrals Program.  Ms. Kaufman has mediated hundreds of disputes throughout the government and has provided training and mediation for both federal and community mediation programs in the Washington metropolitan area.

Ms. Kaufman is a member of both the District of Columbia and the New York Bars.  She earned an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a Juris Doctorate from Duke University School of Law.

Deputy General Counsel

James C. Owens is Deputy General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

Mr. Owens first joined the Department when he was appointed as the Legal Advisor to the General Counsel in January 2017, and served as Acting General Counsel from August through November 2017.  Mr. Owens has also served as an attorney for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he investigated and prosecuted fraud and manipulation in the nation’s energy markets.  Prior to entering Federal service, Mr. Owens was in private practice in Washington, D.C. focusing on civil and criminal litigation.    Early in his career, Mr. Owens was a law clerk to then-Chief Judge Danny J. Boggs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

A native of Winchester, Virginia, Mr. Owens holds an undergraduate degree magna cum laude from James Madison University.  Mr. Owens received his law degree, as well as an M.A. and a Ph.D., from the University of Virginia. He lives in Loudoun County, VA with his wife, two children, and two dogs.

General Counsel

Steve Bradbury was sworn in on November 28, 2017, as the 23rd General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) after his confirmation by the United States Senate.

As the Department’s chief legal officer, Mr. Bradbury has the authority to resolve all legal questions concerning the Department’s policies and programs and its more than 55,000 employees and $79 billion budget.  Mr. Bradbury oversees the activities of the Department’s lawyers, safeguarding the integrity of the decision-making process and ensuring compliance with applicable laws.

Before joining DOT, Mr. Bradbury was a litigation partner at Dechert LLP in Washington, D.C., where his practice focused on regulatory enforcement and investigations, rulemaking and judicial review of agency actions, appellate cases, and antitrust matters.  In private practice, he gained experience with automotive safety and aviation competition issues, including before DOT.  From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Bradbury headed the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he advised the executive branch on a wide range of constitutional and statutory questions, and where he received the Edmund J. Randolph Award and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, among other awards.  Before serving in the Justice Department, Mr. Bradbury was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP for ten years.  He clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court and for Judge James L. Buckley on the D.C. Circuit.  Mr. Bradbury graduated magna cum laude from Michigan Law School and received his B.A. from Stanford University.  He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and lives with his wife in McLean, Virginia.

Acting Assistant General Counsel for General Law

Director, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Fern F. Kaufman is the Director of the DOT Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, where she is responsible for training and education, neutral services, and dispute resolution design and evaluation.  Ms. Kaufman mediates two-party and multi-party disputes, coaches managers and employees on improving communication and conflict management skills,  and provides training in basic and advanced communications, interest-based problem solving, facilitation, and conflict management. Ms. Kaufman also represents the Department at conferences and seminars and on the Steering Committee of the Attorney General's Interagency Dispute Resolution Working Group.  Ms. Kaufman previously served DOT as an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for Dispute Resolution at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Before DOT, Ms. Kaufman was Director of the Collaboration and ADR program at the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).  At the FLRA, Ms. Kaufman provided alternative dispute Resolution services in pending unfair labor practice, representation, negotiability and bargaining impasse disputes and provided facilitation and training activities to assist labor and management in developing constructive approaches to conducting their relationships.  Prior to FLRA, Ms. Kaufman was Deputy Director of Mediation services at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), where she directed the Federal Sharing Neutrals Program.  Ms. Kaufman has mediated hundreds of disputes throughout the government and has provided training and mediation for both federal and community mediation programs in the Washington metropolitan area.

Ms. Kaufman is a member of both the District of Columbia and the New York Bars.  She earned an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a Juris Doctorate from Duke University School of Law.

Assistant Secretary for Administration

Keith Nelson is the Assistant Secretary for Administration.

Keith brings a diverse background in both the public and private sectors.  Prior to joining DOT, he served as a senior consultant with LMI, where he led multiple multi-million dollar projects for the U.S. House of Representatives, Homeland Security, Department of State, Veterans Affairs, and the General Services Administration. 

In the public sector, he was the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief Human Capital Officer for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  In this role, he oversaw HUD’s human resources, facilities, security and grants management.  Prior to his time at HUD, Keith worked at the Department of Labor as Associate Deputy Secretary for Management. Keith has an MBA from UCLA, a Master’s of Journalism from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Acting Assistant General Counsel for General Law

Associate General Counsel

Gregory D. Cote serves as Associate General Counsel for the United States Department of Transportation (DOT).

Prior to joining DOT, Mr. Cote served as a litigation partner with the law firm McCarter & English LLP in Boston, Massachusetts.  While there, he established a diverse practice focusing on civil rights, torts, property and environmental matters, contract disputes, class actions, and constitutional and appellate litigation.  He also played an integral role in the successful defense of two separate lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a toll discount program administered by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.  Between 2009 and 2018, Greg served on the Massachusetts Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and, between 2012 and 2018, on the board of BOSTnet, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the development and improvement of after-school and out-of-school educational programs.  He grew up primarily in the Burlington, Vermont area, where he earned an A.S. from Champlain College and a B.A. from Trinity College of Vermont.  He received his law degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Acting Assistant General Counsel for General Law

Assistant General Counsel for General Law

Terence Carlson is the Assistant General Counsel for General Law and has served in this position since 2013. Mr. Carlson leads an office of 14 attorneys, and supervises and manages all legal matters related to many of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) administrative operations, including fiscal issues, procurement matters, financial assistance, innovative financing and public private partnerships, equal employment opportunity and other civil rights issues, personnel law, ethics, real property, and asset management. Mr. Carlson also serves as DOT's Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Carlson was Deputy Assistant General Counsel for General Law from 2008 to 2013, where he worked closely with the Assistant General Counsel to supervise and manage the Office of General Law and its practice areas. Mr. Carlson was previously a staff attorney in the Office of General Law, where his areas of practice included fiscal law, procurement, financial assistance, innovative financing and public private partnerships. Mr. Carlson began his legal career in DOT as an Honors Attorney, serving rotational assignments in the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Offices of Legislation and Litigation in DOT's Office of General Counsel.

Mr. Carlson received the Federal Bar Association's Transportation Lawyer of the Year Award, and numerous Secretarial and Office of General Counsel awards, including the Secretary's Award for Meritorious Achievement, the Secretary's Award for Superior Achievement, the General Counsel's Award for Exceptional Service, and the General Counsel's Award for Exceptional Performance.

Mr. Carlson received his J.D. from Catholic University of America and his B.A. from Fordham University. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Legislation

Tina Ro is the Deputy Assistant General Counsel in the Office of Legislation, which provides legal support and advice on legislative matters throughout the Department, oversees the development and coordination of Departmental policy and views on pending legislation, and drafts legislative proposals. Prior to joining the Office of Legislation, Ms. Ro was an Attorney-Advisor in the Department of Energy’s Office of the General Counsel. Ms. Ro previously served as an Attorney-Advisor in the Offices of Chief Counsel at the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Ms. Ro began her legal career at the Department as an Honors Attorney, serving rotational assignments in the General Counsel’s Office of General Law and the Federal Transit Administration, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Ms. Ro graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where she served as the Executive Editor of the Interdisciplinary Law Journal. Ms. Ro is a member of the California State Bar. She resides in Virginia with her husband and two children.

Overview

The CFO's Office is led by a strong team of experienced managers who work to provide sound budget development, disciplined performance review, rigorous financial management, and responsible credit administration for the Department. Below are the professional bios for the office's senior management team. To read professional bios for the CFO and the Deputy Assistant Secretaries, click here.

• Lana T. Hurdle - Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs
• Jennifer Funk - Deputy Chief Financial Officer
• Laura M. Ziff - Director, Budget and Program Performance
• Erin P. McCartney - Deputy Director
• Lisa J. Macecevic - Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Secretary of Transportation
• Michael Bouril - Director, Credit Oversight and Risk Management

Office of Budget and Program Performance

Lana T. Hurdle, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs

Lana Hurdle is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs at the United States Department of Transportation.  She is the principal career Deputy and the senior member of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs team.  Lana directs the overall budget and program performance process for the Department and supports the leadership team on a wide variety of projects.  Most recently, Lana has served as the Department’s Presidential Transition Director providing advice and assistance to the senior career staff in preparing for a change in Administrations.

Since the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, Lana has been a key resource in the implementation of the Department’s new “Build America Bureau”.  When fully implemented, the Bureau will provide a modern center for innovative finance solutions that will support transportation projects throughout the Nation. Lana co-lead the Department’s Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Team charged with implementing the 2009 Recovery Act.   This team successfully obligated $48.1 billion on transportation projects throughout the Nation creating jobs and assisting local economies.  From 2001 through 2008, Lana served as the Department’s Director of Budget and Program Performance and was responsible for the formulation, justification, and execution of the Department’s annual budget requests.

Lana received the prestigious Meritorious (2006) and Distinguished Executive (2011) Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Awards for her contributions in budget and financial management throughout her Federal service. 

Prior to her assignments at the Department of Transportation, Lana served as the Chief Financial Officer for the United States Peace Corps for three separate Peace Corps Directors.  She was the senior financial management official overseeing all financial management services spanning 77 countries world-wide.

Lana began her Federal government career at the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President where she served as Budget Examiner for the United States Coast Guard, the Federal Trade Commission, and the National Transportation Safety Board programs.

She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 1977.  Lana lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Robert.  Lana and Robert are active dog foster parents with “A Forever Home Dog Rescue” and are devoted to their canine companions Riesling and Pearl.

Jennifer Funk, Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Funk is the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Deputy Chief Financial Officer, where she is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs/Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as well as to DOT senior leaders, on issues involving the amended CFO Act of 1990 and related financial management reforms. Jen oversees the Annual Financial Statement Audit, Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Control Program and manages the financial systems and reporting for the Department. She provides responsible stewardship of the financial resources entrusted to DOT by conducting rigorous and continual oversight of the Department's financial management activities and providing policy and procedural direction to DOT Operating Administrations on financial management matters.

Since joining DOT in 2005, Jen has led the launch of many high-priority, complex programs and initiatives including Federal Spending Transparency, the Department-wide Internal Control Program, and the Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act. In 2009, Ms. Funk received the Secretary’s Silver Medal for strengthening DOT’s risk assessment and internal control programs to ensure the safeguarding of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.

Background

Ms. Funk began her federal government career in 1991 as a cooperative education student at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center. She held progressively responsible roles within the CFO’s office at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In these positions, she provided advice, leadership and policy direction in various financial accounting, audit, accountability and reporting matters including the depreciation and capitalization valuation of assets and software.

Throughout her career, Ms. Funk has actively championed the creation of government-wide coalitions to tackle a number of seemingly intractable Government-wide issues. Most recently, she co-chairs the Award Committee for E-Government (ACE), representing the functional needs of the CFO community as they provide strategic vision and expected outcomes for the portfolio of systems supporting federal acquisition and financial assistance.

Laura M. Ziff, Director

Laura M. Ziff serves as the Director of the Office of Budget and Program Performance. In this role, she oversees the development, implementation, and administration of the Department’s budget for ten operating administrations and the Office of the Secretary. Ms. Ziff joined the Office of Budget and Program Performance in 2002 as a budget analyst covering multiple operating agencies and the Highway Trust Fund. She has also served as the office’s Deputy Director from 2008 to 2009.

Background

Ms. Ziff began her Federal career at the U.S. Coast Guard, where she worked on performance management issues. Prior to joining the Federal government, Ms. Ziff worked for the Council for Excellence in Government and the National Cooperative Business Association.

Ms. Ziff holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke University.

Erin P. McCartney, Deputy Director

Erin P. McCartney serves as the Deputy Director of the Office of Budget and Program Performance. In this role, he oversees the development, implementation, and administration of the Department’s budget, including ten operating agencies and the Office of the Secretary. Mr. McCartney has worked at the Department of Transportation since 2010 when he became Budget Director for the Federal Transit Administration. From 2013 to 2016 Mr. McCartney served as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the Federal Railroad Administration.

Mr. McCartney began his Federal government career in 1998 as a program examiner at the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President.  During his time at OMB, he oversaw programs at the Department of Transportation, the Federal Emergency Management Administration, and the Small Business Administration.

Mr. McCartney holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in Public Financial Administration from Indiana University.

Office of OST Chief Financial Officer

Lisa J. Macecevic, Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Lisa has been with the Department of Transportation since February of 2016.  Prior to joining DoT, Lisa worked in the Office of the Comptroller at the Department of Defense overseeing budget formulation and systems.  Lisa also worked in the Budget Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs overseeing health and benefits programs for Veterans.  Lisa previously served as the Budget Director at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security.  She started her Federal career at the Office of Management and Budget, working in both legislative review and budget and management oversight.  Lisa has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Office of Credit Oversight and Risk Management

Michael Bouril, Director

Michael Bouril serves as the Director of the Office of Credit Oversight and Risk Management.  Mr. Bouril plays a key role in the execution and oversight of the Department’s more than $16 billion innovative finance portfolio by managing the Secretary’s credit oversight team and Credit Council. He also ensures the Department’s credit policies are consistently implemented across the operating administrations' innovative finance programs. Prior to assuming his current duties, Mr. Bouril spent five years as a credit program analyst in the Office of Budget and Program Performance, where he advised the Chief Financial Officer on loan applications and credit policy and assisted in the development and execution of DOT’s budget of more than $70 billion.

Background

Mr. Bouril began his Federal career with the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, where he worked as a financial analyst on the Maritime Guaranteed Loan program. 

Mr. Bouril holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in Business Administration from George Mason University.

Associate CIO for IT Shared Services

Jack Albright is responsible for providing the full range of core departmental commodity IT business enabling capabilities including data center, network, help desk, Internet, email, desktop, mobile, server, storage, telecommunications, wireless, security, and cloud services through Infrastructure, Platform, and Software as a Service offerings.

Jack joined OCIO as the Associate Chief Information Officer (ACIO) for IT Shared Services (ITSS) in March 2016.  He leads a team of highly skilled and energetic IT professionals that provide and maintain technology innovations and solutions to effectively, efficiently, and economically enable the Department's lines of business.  Jack also serves as a senior advisor to the CIO and Deputy CIO by providing policy support and strategies to both secure and enable the safety mission of the organization.  Jack is passionate about customer service excellence which is clearly evident in his character and attitude.  He is committed to applying an enterprise approach to all business challenges to ensure technology solutions meet expectations, provide maximum business value and reduce redundancies and costs.

Prior to his position as ACIO ITSS, Jack served as the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Chief Information Officer for more than 10 years.  Previously Jack served as the Information Resources Manager for PHMSA's predecessor agency, the Research and Special Program Administration (RSPA) where he became the first non FAA DOT federal employee to obtain a SANS Institute Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC).

Jack has more than 24 years of experience in information technology, including strategic planning, policy, alignment of technology with business, Capital Planning, Enterprise Architecture, application and systems development, mobile computing, project management, cybersecurity, IT and data center operations, and cloud services.

Director of the Resource Management Office

Lauren is the Director of the Resource Management Office (RMO) for the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).  In this role she is responsible for strategic communications, Human Resources, and the budget and procurement for OCIO's three funds including the IT Working Capital Fund (WCF). She also manages the Department's enterprise web platform which now hosts several operating administrations and the government wide permitting dashboard.

Prior to this position, Lauren worked at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Center for Tobacco Products and in the Office of the Commissioner.  While at FDA, she focused on stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, digital communications and contract management.

Lauren received her BA from the Colgate University and an MPH from the University of Maryland. She lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband and daughter.

Associate CIO for IT Policy

Steve is Associate CIO for IT Policy for the U.S. Department of Transportation. His responsibilities include IT strategy, policy, governance, investment management and implementation of the Department’s plans for the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA). 

Steve has over 30 years of experience that spans the federal career service, academia and private sector consulting.  He joined DOT CIO  in January 2017 after working as a consultant for 10 years supporting federal agency CIOs with strategy, policy and governance at Octo Consulting Group and SRA’s Touchstone Consulting Group.  He previously served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems at UMBC where he taught and did research on Management Information Systems,  Decision Support Systems, Project Management and e-government.    

Steve’s first stint of federal service started as a Presidential Management Intern for the Naval Sea Systems Command.  He spent 10 years at the Office if Management and Budget working on management, budget and information technology and policy issues.  Steve then joined the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and helped to direct the Program Management Office for Tax Systems Modernization.  He completed his time at IRS helping to stand up the Electronic Tax Administration organization running the IRS e-file program.  His organization was responsible for standing up the first electronic signature and payment programs and also created the first paid advertising program for e-file.

Steve received his BA in Public Management and Masters in Public Administration from the University of Maine.  He earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy at Virginia Tech.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration

Keith Washington serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation. In this role, he provides leadership and oversight in the areas of human resources, security, acquisitions and grants, transportation and facilities, and space management. Prior to this role, he was the Director in the Departmental Office of Human Resource Management. In this key role, he was responsible for leading and evaluating Departmental human resource management policies for a large Cabinet level agency in the following areas: recruitment and staffing, position classification, pay, labor and employee relations, learning and development, workforce planning, executive resources, work and family life, employee benefits, automation, performance management, and accountability.

Keith previously served as the Interim Associate Administrator for Administration, Maritime Administration (MARAD). In this role, he was MARAD’s principal administrative and management official and led the following areas: acquisition, human resources, information technology, facilities, and administrative services. He also provided oversight of the mission-support functions for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, one of five United States service academies.

Mr. Washington has held other key positions at the U.S. Department of Transportation including the Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Director, Departmental Office of Human Resource Management, the Associate Director for Human Resources Policy and Oversight as well as the Manager, Air Traffic Executive Staff at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Presidential Rank Award and the Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Achievement for his distinguished leadership in supporting the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Keith’s hobbies include travel and he has visited all seven continents. He is a native Washingtonian and DC public school graduate. He successfully completed the Key Executive Program at the American University. He has a Master’s of Public Administration from the American University and a B.A. in Political Science (cum laude) from American University.  Additionally, he successfully completed Georgetown University’s Executive Coaching Program.

Deputy General Counsel

James C. Owens is Deputy General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Mr. Owens joined the Department in January 2017, and served as the Department’s Acting General Counsel between August and November 2017.

In this position, Mr. Owens works closely with the General Counsel and the Department’s nearly 500 attorneys covering every mode of transportation.  Mr. Owens also coordinates with senior leaders and career experts on the Department’s regulatory reform efforts, which are dedicated to enhancing safety for the traveling public while identifying and reducing unnecessary burdens, streamlining the infrastructure permitting process, and ensuring that the Department’s regulations accommodate innovation in a safety-conscious and technology-neutral manner.

Before joining the Department, Mr. Owens was an attorney for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he worked to protect consumers and the integrity of the nation’s energy markets by investigating and bringing civil penalty actions against instances of fraud and market manipulation.  Before entering Federal service, Mr. Owens had a broad-based litigation and regulatory practice at law firms in Washington D.C., focusing on subjects such as consumer protection, antitrust, and intellectual property law.  Mr. Owens also maintained an active pro bono practice, helping prepare numerous appellate briefs for non-profit organizations, and securing the release from prison of a wrongfully convicted former soldier.  Early in his legal career, Mr. Owens was a law clerk to Judge Danny J. Boggs on the Sixth Circuit.  Prior to graduating from law school, Mr. Owens taught history at the University of Virginia.

Mr. Owens received his law degree, as well as an M.A. and a Ph.D., from the University of Virginia, and graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University.  He grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, and lives with his family in Virginia.

General Counsel
(and performing the functions and duties of the Deputy Secretary)

Steve Bradbury was sworn in on November 28, 2017, as the 23rd General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) after his confirmation by the United States Senate.  In addition, on September 10, 2019, President Trump authorized Mr. Bradbury to perform the functions and duties of the Office of Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

As the Department’s chief legal officer, Mr. Bradbury has the authority to resolve all legal questions concerning the Department’s policies and programs and oversees the activities of the Department’s lawyers, safeguarding the integrity of the decision-making process and ensuring compliance with applicable laws.  In performing the functions and duties of Deputy Secretary, Mr. Bradbury assists the Secretary in managing the Department's activities and its more than 55,000 employees and $87 billion budget.

Before joining DOT, Mr. Bradbury was a litigation partner at the law firm Dechert LLP in Washington, D.C., where his practice focused on regulatory enforcement and investigations, rulemaking and judicial review of agency actions, appellate cases, and antitrust matters.  In private practice, he gained experience with automotive safety and aviation competition issues, including before DOT.  From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Bradbury headed the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he advised the executive branch on a wide range of constitutional and statutory questions, and where he received the Edmund J. Randolph Award and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, among other awards.  Before serving in the Justice Department, Mr. Bradbury was a law partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP for ten years.  He clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court and for Judge James L. Buckley on the D.C. Circuit.  Mr. Bradbury graduated magna cum laude from Michigan Law School and received his B.A. from Stanford University.  He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and lives with his wife in McLean, Virginia.