Proterra announced that its long-time COO, Josh Ensign, as president of Proterra Transit, effective Sept. 1.

“Growing up in a small town outside Sacramento, I spent much of my childhood camping, fishing, and skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountains. These are some of my fondest memories and the experience of enjoying nature is something I want my kids and their kids to have, as well,” said Ensign in a blog post on Proterra’s site. “It’s this experience that drove me to take action to help preserve and protect these special places. This work has never been more important. Transportation remains one of the leading sources of air pollution and damaging emissions. For me, electrifying transportation is personal. This is my passion and it’s why I’m so excited to step into my new role as President of Proterra Transit.”

A U.S. Army veteran and former executive of Honeywell International and Tesla Motors, Ensign’s track record includes leading global operations for 42 factories in 15 countries and managing the supporting supply chains.

As VP, manufacturing, at Tesla Motors, Ensign was responsible for all manufacturing activities at its Fremont, Calif., production site. This included the installation of the current Model S high volume production line, the launch of both the dual-motor platform and the Model X, and the establishment of Tesla’s new seat manufacturing facility. Before Tesla, Ensign led global operations in Honeywell International’s automotive and aerospace businesses. He has extensive functional experience in supply chain, logistics, purchasing, and manufacturing.

“The road to the future of zero-emission transportation begins with public transit and the time is now,” said Ensign. “I’m excited to join you all in this journey — our customers, friends, and the communities we serve — as we work toward our collective goal of clean, healthy communities driven by zero-emission transportation.”