Senate Confirms Nadeau as FHWA Administrator

The Senate on Aug. 5 confirmed Greg Nadeau to be administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, a position he has filled on an acting basis or as deputy administrator either as deputy or acting administrator since Jan. 1, 2014.

That was when Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx tapped former FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez to serve as acting deputy secretary for the Department of Transportation. The Senate confirmed Mendez as deputy DOT secretary in July 2014.

 Nadeau

Nadeau’s was one of more than two dozen nominations the Senate approved that day by voice vote.

Another was Marie Therese Dominguez to head the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. She has been that agency’s deputy administrator.

Nadeau was appointed FHWA deputy administrator in 2009, and worked closely with state departments of transportation on highway infrastructure development and funding.

Earlier, he worked in various positions at the Maine DOT from 2002 to 2009, including deputy commissioner.

Before that he was senior policy adviser to then-Gov. Angus King from 1995 to 2002, a policy adviser in the Office of the Senate President of Maine from 1993 to 1994 and had been a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990.

Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said: “Greg Nadeau is a proven leader who knows first-hand how to run a transportation agency on the state and federal levels. Greg is also a valued partner who has teamed with AASHTO to develop practical transportation policies, advance safety, and implement new cutting-edge technologies.

“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Greg and the FHWA to make transportation in America stronger.”

Maine’s two U.S. senators, King and Susan Collins, issued a joint statement announcing his confirmation.

“Greg Nadeau is the right person to lead the Federal Highway Administration,” they said. “He is a true leader whose experience and strength of character position him to lead this critical agency into the future. We are delighted the Senate unanimously approved his nomination and look forward to working with him to modernize America’s highway system.”