Despite its critical role, the experiences, lessons, and insights from outgoing deputy secretaries of transportation are not always well-chronicled. This Eno initiative will capture these important perspectives for future appointees. It is important not just for posterity, but to directly aid in the transition to deputy secretaries’ successors, better define the position, and suggest metrics of success.
The United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation serves as the chief operating officer of the department, leads cross-department and other high-profile initiatives, and works in tandem with the secretary. It is sometimes referred to as an “alter ego” position, given the necessarily close relationship with the secretary. The deputy secretary must be nominated by the president and appointed only after official Senate confirmation.
Eno will collaborate with other organizations focused on transportation policy and practice, as well as public administration experts, professors, researchers, and students. Eno regularly captures best practices, insights, and lessons learned from government leaders, but ultimately each fellow will have the latitude to formulate and share their insights in the format that suits them best.
The Mortimer L. Downey Legacy Fellows Program a key part of our commitment to enhancing transportation governance. By consolidating and sharing lessons learned, we’re building collective wisdom for the entire industry. If you share our vision and understand the value of this knowledge-driven approach, consider supporting our endeavors.
About Mort
Mortimer L. Downey served as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 2001 and as an Assistant Secretary of Transportation from 1977 to 1981. In 2008, he led the Obama transition agency review team for transportation. From 1981 to 1993, he was an officer of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, serving for several years as its Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer. Since 2001, Mort worked as a transportation consultant on a wide variety of institutional, financial, and organizational issues. He was appointed by the federal government to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board in 2010, and starting in 2015 served as its chair. He holds a B.A. in political science from Yale University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service, and completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. He has received numerous transportation awards, including the lifetime achievement award from the American Public Transportation Association.
I am pleased Eno’s Board of Directors is able to honor Mort in this way. His impact and legacy across the government is vast, as is his imprint on this organization.
I am excited to participate in a program that will enrich and support all of us who have the honor of serving in the role of USDOT Deputy Secretary. And I am thrilled to be part of a lovely tribute to Mort Downey — who has been a mentor and role model for so many of us in transportation.
Mort was extremely generous with his time when I was nominated as Deputy. He provided extremely valuable advice, and a couple of priceless heads up. Throughout my tour, I told people that I ‘wanted to be Mort Downey when I grow up.’
