President Barack Obama April 3 nominated Victor Mendez, former director of the Arizona DOT and the 2007 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), as the next Federal Highway administrator, subject to Senate confirmation.
Most recently, Mendez directed public outreach as a member of the Obama transition team on transportation. He began his work with ADOT in 1985 and was named director in 2001. He has experience in transportation including innovations in the areas of funding and financing, technology, infrastructure, research, planning and internal operations. During his tenure, Mendez implemented the accelerated schedule for the Valley regional freeway system, advancing its completion from 2014 to 2007. As deputy director, he assisted with the state’s first major design-build project, the widening of I-17, as well as its largest project to date, the widening of the Superstition Freeway. In 2008, Mendez was selected as Leader of the Year in Public Policy in Transportation by the Arizona Capitol Times.
AASHTO approved the nomination, with Executive John Horsley stating, “We consider Victor Mendez an outstanding choice for this key leadership role at the Federal Highway Administration, particularly as we approach the authorization of the nation’s surface transportation programs. He brings an in-depth knowledge of transportation gained on the front lines of a state DOT, which will be invaluable as we look to reform and improve the way we provide transportation for America.”
