President Barack Obama said Thursday that he plans to nominate former Arizona Department of Transportation director Victor Mendez for administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
Mendez, a two-decade ADOT official, was named director in 2001 by then-Gov. Jane Hull, a Republican. He was held over by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano during her six years in office.
Mendez is said to have extensive experience in transportation including innovations in the areas of funding and financing, technology, infrastructure, research, planning and internal operations.
He has served as a past president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Mendez previously was selected as the deputy state engineer to lead the implementation of the Phoenix metropolitan area's multibillion-dollar freeway system.
