SACRAMENTO, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom announces the appointment of Dina El-Tawansy as the new Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). In her new role, El-Tawansy will oversee management of more than 50,000 miles of California's highway and freeway lanes and a budget of nearly $18 billion. Caltrans carries out its mission with six primary programs: Aeronautics, Highway Transportation, Mass Transportation, Transportation Planning, Administration, and the Equipment Service Center.
El-Tawansy has held multiple positions at Caltrans since 1998, including District 4 Acting Director; District 4 Chief Deputy Director; District 12 Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance; and Regional Project Manager. Most recently, she served as the Caltrans District 4 (Bay Area) Director.
El-Tawansy earned a Master of Science in construction management from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona.
“Dina brings strong leadership history, extensive transportation expertise, and nearly three decades of impressive Caltrans credentials to the helm of the most complex transportation network in the nation,” California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said. “Dina’s proven, people-focused record will enable a vital, seamless integration into this role as she and her team of 22,000 continue to prioritize improved lives for all Californians.”
"I am honored to serve as the Director of Caltrans and to continue my work improving California’s transportation infrastructure," El-Tawansy said. "My focus will be on accelerating the work of Caltrans across all programs to deliver efficient and effective transportation solutions."
