AASHTO Journal, 21 August 2015
New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan said she will nominate Victoria Sheehan, an official of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, to be the next commissioner of the NHDOT.
Hassan plans to put Sheehan’s name before the New Hampshire Executive Council on Aug. 26 for its confirmation.
Sheehan would follow Chris Clement as the permanent agency CEO; he left in December for a position at the University of New Hampshire. Currently, the NHDOT is headed by Acting Commissioner Bill Cass.
The governor’s announcement said Sheehan, who is now MassDOT’s manager of strategic planning and highway performance, was the top recommendation of a comprehensive search effort led by Department of Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes, former DOT Commissioner George Campbell, former Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Linda Hodgdon and Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau.
Hassan said the top job at the NHDOT “is critical to ensuring that our state has the full range of safe and modern transportation options that our 21st Century economy needs to thrive and grow.” The governor added that Sheehan “will bring years of experience managing complex transportation projects and programs in her more than 10 years of distinguished work” as the Massachusetts department.
In her current position, Sheehan coordinates the MassDOT Highway Division’s five-year, $5 billion capital plan and annual $600 million operating budget, and is also responsible for asset management, project controls and performance oversight, Hassan’s office said.
Sheehan has also been MassDOT’s accelerated bridge program manager and bridge program consultant contracts administrator.
In response to the nomination announcement, Sheehan said: “I am grateful that Governor Hassan has entrusted me with the important responsibility of ensuring a reliable and modern transportation infrastructure that will lay the foundation for future economic growth, and I look forward to working with the governor and New Hampshire’s dedicated DOT employees to keep the state’s roads clear and safe.”