BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary Shawn Wilson, Ph.D. announces two new additions to his executive staff. Deidre Deculus Robert has been named as Executive Counsel, and Joshua McNemar has been named as Assistant to Secretary for policy and governmental affairs.

Robert brings almost 20 years of legal experience to DOTD. She most recently served as General Counsel for the Southern University System. Prior to that position, she was employed for over six years at the Louisiana attorney general’s office in the Litigation Division and Public Protection Division. Robert is a graduate of Louisiana State University and received her juris doctor degree from Southern University Law Center.

McNemar comes to DOTD from the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor where he served as Senior Advisor for nearly four years. He has emergency management experience, joining the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) under Gov. Kathleen Blanco in 2006. He served in the executive office and disaster recovery, managing over $40 million in federal hazard grants for parish governments. As a public assistant closeout specialist with GCR, Inc. and Deloitte, he returned to GOHSEP as a Consultant to ensure compliance with policies, guidance, law and rules and regulations.

“I’m pleased to have these two professionals as the newest members of our executive team at DOTD,” Wilson said. “In furthering our state’s infrastructure system, they are welcome assets not only to the department, but also to the citizens of Louisiana.”