Dr. Sutton Named FHWA Deputy Administrator |
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Topics: Walter Sutton
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Federal Highway Administration
May 15, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 15, 2000
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 31-00
U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced the appointment of Dr. Walter Sutton Jr. as deputy administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Dr. Sutton had served as acting deputy administrator since January 2000 at the FHWA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
"Walter’s work at the FHWA, coupled with his overall background in transportation and his knowledge and experience in environmental and legal issues, are major assets as we work, with vision and vigilance, to advance transportation excellence in the 21st century," Secretary Slater said.
As deputy administrator, Dr. Sutton helps to lead the FHWA, which has 2,700 employees, a field office in every state, and an annual budget of more than $28 billion. In February and March 2000, Dr. Sutton directed a federal task force that examined cost overruns in connection with the multi-billion dollar Central Artery/Tunnel project in Boston.
Before becoming acting deputy, Dr. Sutton was associate administrator for policy at the FHWA, a position to which he was named in September 1998. He came to Washington from Dallas, where he was senior environmental attorney with Fina Oil and Chemical Company. Before that, he was regional counsel and deputy regional counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and practiced environmental law with Hughes and Luce, L.L.P., in Dallas.
Dr. Sutton spent several years as adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University and was a lecturer at the University of Texas at Dallas. He also has held positions with Texas Instruments in Dallas, Tenneco Oil Co. in Houston, and Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Mich.
Dr. Sutton holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Denver, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Dallas, a Ph.D. in management science from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Sutton, a native of Marshall, Texas, has several professional affiliations in legal and environmental organizations. He was president of the National Bar Association from 1987-88.
Dr. Sutton replaced Gloria Jeff, who served as deputy administrator for more than two years before resigning in January 2000 to join the private sector.