AASHTO Journal, 10 January 2014
Texas Department of Transportation Chief Financial Officer James Bass was this week selected by the Texas Transportation Commission to serve as interim executive director of the organization. Bass replaces Phil Wilson, who announced his departure last month to take a position as general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority (see related AASHTO Journal story here).
Bass began his role as TxDOT CFO in 2005. In this position, Bass oversees the agency’s Finance Division, Toll Operations Division, and Innovative Financing and Debt Management Office. However, Bass had plenty of experience at TxDOT before serving in his current role, as he first came to the department in 1985, when he worked part-time as an engineering aide while earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Upon graduation, Bass worked full-time at TxDOT as an accounting clerk in the Finance Division’s Accounting Section and was eventually promoted to budget analyst in the Budget and Forecasting Section. In 1999, Bass was chosen to lead the Finance Division as director.
Bass is expected to step into his role as interim executive director on Friday, Jan. 17. According to the Texas Tribune, the Texas Transportation Commission will create a search committee to find a permanent replacement in the coming days.