Winfree Appointed to Lead Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Board of Regents Selects Senior USDOT Official
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Following an extensive national search, The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has appointed former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation Gregory D. Winfree, J.D., as Agency Director for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).
Winfree, who until recently served as Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), will begin his new role on December 15. He replaces Dennis L. Christiansen, P.E., Ph.D., who stepped down after 10 years as TTI Agency Director and 45 years of service at TTI.
“TTI is the best transportation research agency on the planet, and Greg Winfree’s vast experience in the national transportation arena and proven leadership will serve TTI and the A&M System well,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “We are fortunate to attract such an innovative leader to head up our excellent team at TTI.”
Winfree joined USDOT’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology in March 2010 as Chief Counsel and was later sworn in as the Assistant Secretary in January 2014. During his tenure, Winfree also served as Deputy Administrator and Administrator of a predecessor agency, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).
As Assistant Secretary, he was the senior executive responsible for a $450 million budget and oversaw more than 1,000 scientific, data analysis and administrative staff members who support USDOT’s multi-modal transportation initiatives. The program offices under his purview included: the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center; the Research, Development and Technology Coordination Office; the Bureau of Transportation Statistics; the Positioning, Navigation, Timing and Spectrum Management Office; the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office; and the Transportation Safety Institute.
“Mr. Winfree has an outstanding record of transportation research at the national level and is well-positioned to connect TTI with funding opportunities,” said M. Katherine Banks, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor and Dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “He is a fantastic hire for TTI and the Texas A&M System, and I look forward to fully supporting him as he identifies and implements new opportunities and initiatives for TTI.”
“The safe and efficient movement of people and goods is the lifeblood of this country and what keeps the United States the preeminent economic driver worldwide, said Winfree. “I am delighted to join TTI—the preeminent university transportation research institute nationwide—to help identify solutions and opportunities to address our transportation challenges and keep Texas and America moving forward. I am humbled by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and appreciate the confidence of the Board of Regents, Chancellor Sharp and Vice Chancellor Banks.”
Prior to his USDOT appointments, Winfree served as Corporate Counsel for several Fortune 500 corporations operating in a number of technical industries, including natural resources and metals; pharmaceuticals; and chemicals and polymers. Prior to his corporate legal work, Winfree was a Trial Attorney in the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. He started his legal career as an Associate at a prominent Washington, D.C.-based law firm.
Winfree earned a B.S. degree from St. John’s University and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He is an avid motorcycle rider and has cruised U.S. highways from coast to coast on many occasions.
High-res photo available at https://tti.tamu.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WinfreeG.jpg
About the Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Texas A&M Transportation Institute develops solutions to the problems and challenges facing all modes of transportation. The Institute conducts over 700 research projects annually with over 200 sponsors at all levels of government and the private sector. In the laboratory and the classroom, TTI researchers help prepare students for transportation careers. Recognized as one of the premier higher education-affiliated transportation research agencies in the nation, TTI’s research and development program has resulted in significant breakthroughs across all facets of the transportation system. TTI research is widely known as an excellent value with a proven impact of saving lives, time and resources.
About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $4.2 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, the Texas A&M System educates more than 140,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $946 million in FY 2015 and helped drive the state’s economy.
Contact:
Terri Parker
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Division Head, Marketing, Communications and Agency Relations
(979) 862-8348 office
(979) 777-0738 cell
t-parker@tti.tamu.edu