AASHTO Journal, 4 March 2016
Gov. Matt Bevin appointed Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Deputy Secretary Greg Thomas to head the agency as acting secretary on March 3, the KYTC announced, after longtime agency CEO and former AASHTO President Mike Hancock stepped down that day.
The news came three months after Bevin took office following two terms as governor by Steve Beshear, who appointed Hancock to the top transportation job.
ThomasBevin had appointed Thomas as KYTC deputy on Feb. 2 following a career in the electrical and natural gas industry.
Thomas was most recently vice president of electric distribution for LG&E and KU Energy LLC in Louisville. . The announcement said he directed the company’s statewide electric distribution operations and oversaw more than 700 employees and 1,000 contractors. He also set the strategic direction for those operations, including investment planning and managing a $250 million operating and capital annual budget.
Bevin in his February announcement said of Thomas: “His extensive private sector experience in providing statewide services and managing large budgets will be extremely beneficial for the Transportation Cabinet.”
Hancock was an engineer and career employee with the KYTC, where he rose to state highway engineer and chief of staff to the secretary before he came acting secretary in August 2009. Beshear named him as secretary in July 2010.
He was also active in regional and national associations. In October 2013 the AASHTO Board of Directors elected Hancock its 2013-14 president, after he had spent a year as vice president.