Oceanside, Calif.’s North County Transit – San Diego Railroad (NCTD) hired Jeff Hiott to serve as the agency's deputy COO, bus and security.

In this role, Hiott is responsible for daily management and operational efficiency of bus operations and maintenance, including safety and security, ensuring peak performance, and productivity. 

Hiott reports to the COO, bus operations and security, and will serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and NCTD board, helping to guide NCTD’s departmental objectives. 

“Jeff’s contributions to this industry speak for themselves and can be seen by the communities that he has impacted and our industry on a national scale,” said Shawn M. Donaghy, NCTD’s CEO. “On the doorstep of North County Transit – San Diego Railroad’s 50th anniversary, Jeff is the right choice to join our incredible leadership team to help define what the next 50 years will be for our world-class agency.” 

Bringing Experience to NCTD 

Hiott brings more than 20 years of experience in public transportation and engineering and is an alumnus of Georgia Institute of Technology. 

He began his career in transportation as VP, technical services and innovation, at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). 

In this role, he served for 14 years, exhibiting his leadership for the association’s mobility management and innovation technology initiatives including, zero-emission bus implementation, mobility as a service, fare payment, and transit technologies. 

“I’m honored to join NCTD and contribute to a forward-thinking agency that prioritizes innovation, service reliability, and public safety,” said Hiott. “I look forward to working with the team to strengthen transit services for the region and support the agency’s long-term vision.” 

From DC to SoCal 

In his most recent role as sr. VP, operational transformation, at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA), Hiott demonstrated the capacity and capability to deliver programs and initiatives such as prioritizing projects in the Strategic Transformation Plan’s Action Programs portfolio. 

 NCTD’s bus operations department oversees the operation of 37 BREEZE fixed bus routes and eight FLEX routes, LIFT paratransit, and NCTD+ on-demand rides for North San Diego County. These services connect with the agency’s COASTER commuter rail and SPRINTER hybrid rail systems, including agency partners at Amtrak, Metrolink, and MTS.