Governor Appoints Iwasaki to Replace Kempton at Caltrans

Will Kempton, director of the California Department of Transportation for the past five years, was hired to become the new chief executive officer of the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Kempton will leave Caltrans officially July 31. Named by the governor to succeed him is Randell H. Iwasaki, chief deputy director, who will take over Aug. 1.

Kempton is replacing Art Leahy, who left the OCTA in March to head the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 

A 35-year veteran of the transportation industry, Kempton was appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2004 to run Caltrans and oversee 50,000 lane miles of state highways, an annual budget of nearly $14 billion and $10 billion worth of transportation improvements under construction.

Iwasaki has held several engineering and managerial positions at Caltrans over the past 26 years. He has served as the chief deputy director since 2005 and previously held the positions of acting chief deputy director from November 2004 to January 2005 and interim director from July 2004 to November 2004. For the first year as the chief deputy director, he also was program manager for the $8.6 billion toll bridge seismic retrofit program.

From 1999 to 2004, Iwasaki served as deputy director for maintenance and operations and, from 2001 to 2002, he served as interim district director of transportation for District 4, which comprises the nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to that, Iwasaki served as the chief of the maintenance division from 1997 to 1999 and district director of transportation for District 9, headquartered in Bishop on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas, from 1996 to 1997. Prior to this, he served as the deputy district director of maintenance and operations for District 10 which is headquartered in Stockton from 1993 to 1996.

Iwasaki is the recipient of the Charles H. Purcell Award, given annually by Caltrans in recognition of managerial excellence; the Thomas H. McDonald Award, considered the highest award presented by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for “rendering continuous outstanding service over an extended period of time or have made some exceptional contribution to the art and science of highway engineering;” and most recently recognized as one of twenty-five people recognized nationwide as a 2009 Doer, Dreamers & Drivers by Government Technology Magazine.

“I am incredibly honored Governor Schwarzenegger has asked me to take on this position and lead Caltrans,” says Iwasaki. “I look forward to continuing to work with the governor and his administration to advance the state’s leading position in global commerce and enhance the quality of life of all Californians.”

During his Caltrans career, Iwasaki has spearheaded a number of transportation engineering innovations in California including the use of old tires in rubberized asphalt, the installation of LED red lights saving the state taxpayers more than $2 million a year in power costs, and conversion of the Caltrans equipment fleet to clean burning fuels.

Iwasaki, 49, of Elk Grove, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from California State University, Fresno. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $153,360. Iwasaki is a Republican.

Kempton, who is expected to begin Aug. 3, brings to OCTA a broad understanding of transportation programs and policies that span the ranks of government from the local to the federal level.

“This is a very challenging time for every public agency in California. Finding a new CEO for OCTA with Will Kempton’s transportation knowledge and experience at a time like this is a grand-slam home run for us and for everyone in Orange County,” said OCTA Chairman Peter Buffa.

“I’m exceptionally proud of what Caltrans has accomplished over the past five years and  it’s been an honor to serve the people of California under the leadership of Gov. Schwarzenegger,” says Kempton. “During my tenure at Caltrans, I have worked in partnership with OCTA many times and I am looking forward to the opportunity to join an agency that is on the leading edge of transportation innovation.”  

Kempton began his career at Caltrans in 1973. He held management positions in finance and the director’s office at Caltrans prior to being appointed as assistant director in charge of legislative and congressional affairs, a position he held from 1980 to 1985. From 1985 to 1992, Kempton served as executive director of the Santa Clara County Traffic Authority. From 1992 to 2002, he was a partner at Smith, Kempton & Watts, a transportation consulting and advocacy firm that focused on major infrastructure programs.