METRO’sPeople Movement highlights the latest leadership appointments, promotions, and personnel changes across the public transit, motorcoach, and mobility industries.

In this edition, we spotlight recent personnel moves at HNTB, the Eno Center for Transportation, and more, highlighting the people taking on new roles across the transportation industry.

Phillip A. Washington joins HNTB as President of Strategy and Client Service.

Phillip A. Washington joined HNTB as president of strategy and client service, markets and services, and senior vice president, further deepening the firm’s leadership in the transportation industry.

In his new position, Washington will collaborate with professionals across HNTB’s transportation markets, services, and offices to identify emerging opportunities, strengthen strategic client engagement, and help advance solutions that address the evolving needs of transportation agencies and infrastructure owners as they navigate an increasingly connected and rapidly changing transportation landscape.

Washington most recently served as CEO of Denver International Airport, where he led one of the world’s busiest airports and oversaw a multibillion-dollar capital improvement program focused on capacity, customer experience, safety, and long-term growth.

Before Denver, he served as CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he led an 11,000-person organization responsible for the largest modern public works program in North America and helped advance major transit, highway, and mobility investments throughout Los Angeles County. Earlier in his career, he served as CEO of Denver’s Regional Transportation District, leading delivery of the FasTracks expansion program and the redevelopment of Denver Union Station.

Throughout his career, Washington has been recognized for both industry leadership and public service. He was inducted into the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Hall of Fame in 2023 after previously being named Outstanding Public Transportation CEO of the Year in North America by APTA. He also served as APTA chair from 2014 to 2015. In 2018, he received the Honorable Ray LaHood Award from the Women’s Transportation Seminar for his contributions to advancing and advocating for women in the transportation industry. In 2017, Washington was awarded the prestigious Norman Mineta Award from the Mineta Transportation Institute in recognition of his leadership in the transportation industry.

Eno Center Names John Drake President/CEO

The Eno Center for Transportation Board of Directors announced the appointment of John Drake as its new president and CEO.

Drake, who is succeeding interim Paul Wiedefeld, currently serves as vice president of transportation, infrastructure, and supply chain policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and brings over 20 years of experience to the role, including nearly 10 years serving on Capitol Hill, five years as a senior political appointee at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and executive roles in the private sector.

In accepting the role, Drake said, “I am honored to lead the Eno Center for Transportation at this pivotal time. Eno’s world-class team of experts and stakeholders are training our next generation of transportation leaders while also helping guide important debates connecting transportation to advancing our nation’s safety, innovation, economic prosperity, and security. This is an exciting time to be in transportation, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the Eno board and its staff.”

Under Drake’s leadership, the Eno Center for Transportation will continue to focus on its core mission to shape public debate on critical multimodal transportation issues and build a network of innovative transportation professionals, officials said.

Denver RTD Launches National Search for New CEO

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) partnered with executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates to launch a national search for its next CEO.

The agency said it is accepting applications through November 20, with finalists set to be announced publicly by mid-December.

The Search Committee for the agency’s next CEO will include the board’s existing Executive Committee: Chair Patrick O’Keefe, First Vice Chair Ian Harwick, Second Vice Chair Chris Gutschenritter, Secretary Chris Nicholson, and Treasurer Karen Benker. The board has requested the Search Committee identify at least three candidate finalists for the Board’s consideration.

Current RTD GM/CEO Debra A. Johnson’s contract with the agency ends May 8, 2027.

California’s San Joaquin RTD Names New CEO

Stockton, California’s San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) appointed Eric Williams as CEO, entrusting him with leading the District into its next chapter of organizational stability, regional collaboration, and transportation innovation.

Williams had served as RTD's acting CEO after being appointed COO. During his time in executive leadership, he has focused on strengthening internal operations, rebuilding relationships with regional partners, addressing organizational and financial challenges, enhancing public safety and security, and creating a culture of greater accountability and collaboration throughout the District.

As CEO, Williams will lead RTD with a long-term vision focused not simply on where public transportation is today, but on what mobility must become over the next 30 to 40 years as communities throughout San Joaquin County continue to grow and change, the agency said.

One of Williams' early priorities has been rebuilding relationships between RTD and cities, transit providers, regional agencies, and community partners throughout San Joaquin County. Williams has met with local leaders to listen to concerns, address strained relationships, and recommit RTD to collaboration, communication, fairness, and mutual respect, agency officials said.

STV Bolsters Rail Systems Leadership

STV announced that Richard Mascara and Paul Salvatore joined the firm as vice presidents in its national systems practice, strengthening STV’s leadership in train control, signaling, communications, and systems integration.

The appointments expand STV’s ongoing investment in rail and transit agencies as they modernize critical infrastructure and pursue safer, more reliable operations.

Mascara, based in Pittsburgh, will advance STV’s national strategy for Communications-based train control (CBTC), signaling modernization, and systems integration, helping clients improve capacity, safety, and operational performance. He brings more than 30 years of experience leading complex transportation programs and deploying technologies including CBTC, automated people mover systems, platform screen doors, and conventional train control solutions.

Most recently, he led a major transit authority’s NextGen CBTC programs and has built a career helping operators across North America modernize legacy systems, deploy advanced train control technologies, and navigate some of the industry’s most complex systems integration challenges.

Based in Boston, Salvatore will support the growth and delivery of STV’s national rail systems practice. He brings nearly three decades of experience in rail and transit systems engineering, with expertise in signaling, communications, Positive Train Control (PTC), and systems integration. He has overseen major programs for some of North America’s largest transit agencies and held leadership positions at top rail technology consultancies and providers. He has a strong track record of helping agencies modernize critical infrastructure, improve system performance, and advance complex rail initiatives from planning through delivery.