John M. Lewis Jr. has signed his contract to be the new chief executive officer for the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX).  Lewis’ first day of employment will be Dec. 1, 2010.

He was selected out of 36 applicants to replace Linda S. Watson, who left LYNX in July 2010 for a similar position in Austin, Texas. 

Lewis, 43, will bring to Central Florida more than 15 years experience in the transportation industry.  Currently, he is the CEO for the Greater Richmond Transit Commission (GRTC).

“During the next decade Central Florida is going to be the center of the transit universe,” said the new LYNX CEO. “I am ready to integrate myself into the organization and build on the relationships between LYNX, its riders and its community partners.”

Under his leadership, GRTC was recognized in 2008 with the Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award from the American Public Transportation Association as the best transit agency of its size.

GRTC also was named one of the nation's 10 great transit systems to work for in 2009 by METRO Magazine, a bus and rail industry publication.

Lewis previously spent four years as director of rail operations and director of bus operations at the Mass Transit Administration (MTA) for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).  Lewis has worked as MDOT director of special projects, office of planning and capital programs; state legislative director, office of policy and governmental affairs; and as a legislative correspondent for U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.)

The Baltimore native played football and earned his bachelor's degree in political science with a concentration in economics from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.