Mary Peters Sworn in as New FHWA Administrator |
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Topics: Mary Peters
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Federal Highway Administration
October 2, 2001
FHWA 32-01
Tuesday, October 2, 2001
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Telephone: 202-366-0660
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today welcomed Mary Peters as the new administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Senate confirmed Peters on Sept. 26, and she was sworn in today.
“Mary’s long experience as a top state transportation official, coupled with her proven record of leadership and managerial skills, will be great assets at the FHWA and the Department of Transportation,” Secretary Mineta said. “She will help to lead our continuing efforts to improve safety and security, reduce congestion and enhance mobility on our nation’s highways.”
Peters, who rose through the ranks to become the leader of the Arizona Department of Transportation, is now the nation’s top highway official as the 15th administrator of the FHWA.
“I am honored to be selected by President Bush and privileged to join the strong team that Secretary Mineta has assembled at USDOT,” Peters said. “Working with our state and local partners, all of us at FHWA will continue our efforts to develop and maintain a strong, safe and modern transportation network, which is essential to America’s security and prosperity in the 21st century.”
In addition to her work in Arizona, Peters has been involved in transportation issues at the national level. She recently chaired the Standing Committee on Planning and the Asset Management Task Force for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and hosted the 2001 meeting of the Western Association of State Highway Transportation Officials.
Peters served on the board of directors for ITS America, the Arizona Quality Alliance, Women Executives in State Government, and Project Challenge, an arm of the National Guard helping troubled teens become productive citizens. She also chaired the Highway Expansion Loan Program Advisory Board and was a member of the Greater Arizona Development Authority as well as the Governor's Diversity Advisory Council. In addition, she was a member of the Arizona governor’s Growing Smarter Commission, the governor’s CANAMEX task force, and the governor’s Transportation Vision for the 21st Century task force.
Peters, a fourth-generation, native Arizonan, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for State and Local Government Executives. She and her husband, Terry, have three grown children.