Darrell Johnson began his new post today as the CEO of the Calif.-based Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
Under the direction of a 17-voting member board of directors, Johnson is responsible for planning, financing and coordinating Orange County's freeway, street and rail development, as well as managing bus services, commuter rail services and paratransit service.
Johnson, a 20-year veteran of the transportation industry, joined OCTA in 2003 and has served as the deputy CEO since 2010. As deputy CEO, he helped lead OCTA on local, state and national issues related to transportation programs and policies and assisted the CEO in coordinating all business, operations and management activities among the agency’s seven divisions.
Prior to joining OCTA, Johnson worked at Amtrak for 12 years where he held positions in operations, planning and finance, and contributed to the development of passenger rail services in California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
Johnson was selected by the board of directors to succeed Will Kempton, who retired on Feb. 28 to become the executive director of Transportation California.