President Obama has announced he will nominate Greg Nadeau to serve as the next Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Nadeau, 58, will replace Victor Mendez, who in July was named Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

Currently, Nadeau is the agency’s Deputy Administrator, a position he has held since 2009.  From July 2014 to February 2015, he also served as FHWA’s Acting Administrator.

Nadeau held executive positions with the Maine Department of Transportation from 2002 to 2009, including Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Communications. His other governmental experience includes holding a seat in the Maine House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990 and serving as a Senior Policy Advisor to Maine Gov. Angus King from 1995 to 2002.

Former Governor and now Senator King (I-ME) praised the choice of Nadeau to head the agency. “Greg is an experienced and thoughtful leader who will ‎be a champion for improving and strengthening America's highway system," King said in a statement. 

"As a trusted advisor during my time in the Governor's office, he provided me with invaluable advice and sound counsel, and I am confident that he will do the same for the President,” he continued. “I commend the President on his wise choice, and look forward to working closely with Greg ‎to modernize America's highway system."

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) was also pleased. “I have known Greg for many years and have worked closely with him on several projects benefiting Maine's transportation priorities,” Collins said in a statement. “I am delighted the President has nominated him. This is well earned recognition of Greg's expertise in transportation policy."

Word of the nomination was welcomed as well by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.  "President Obama made a solid choice nominating Greg Nadeau, a former state DOT executive and long-time transportation leader, as the next FHWA Administrator,” said Bud Wright, AASHTO executive director. "AASHTO looks forward to a speedy confirmation process for Greg. The issues facing today’s transportation industry are significant and FHWA needs a strong leader."

Several other key agencies within the Department of Transportation currently are also led by interim chiefs: the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.