BATON ROUGE, LA — Governor Jeff Landry announces changes to the leadership at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). Former DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue has moved out of the Secretary role and into the DOTD Executive Counsel position. Glenn Ledet moved from his role as Executive Director of CPRA to become the new Secretary of DOTD. Eric Dauphine, who is the former District Administrator of Lafayette - District 03, moved into the Deputy Secretary position for DOTD.
“Joe has done an outstanding job in one of the most thankless roles in state government. Louisiana’s roads and infrastructure are in dire need of reform, and Joe worked every day to move DOTD forward despite the challenges,” Landry said. “Now, he’s returning to his passion — practicing law — and I know he’ll bring the same dedication and integrity to his new role as DOTD Executive Counsel. I’m excited about the new era of leadership Glenn and Eric will bring to the department.”
With 20 years of expertise, Ledet has experience in both the public and private sectors, building public infrastructure across the Gulf Coast. Most recently, Ledet spent the last 1.5 years serving as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), leading the agency’s implementation of the state’s $50 billion Coastal Master Plan. No stranger to public service, Ledet also spent additional time at CPRA as the Assistant Administrator of the Operations Division, managing the implementation of large-scale flood protection infrastructure projects.
Ledet also has an extensive engineering and business background, serving for over 13 years in the engineering industry, including multiple years in management positions with engineering, planning, and construction management firms, where he led strategic growth, business development, and operations efforts. In those capacities, Ledet had the opportunity to work for various departments of transportation across the Southeast, including DOTD.
Ledet has a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering from Louisiana State University (LSU) and is a licensed Civil Engineer in multiple states in the gulf coast.
| Your local Leica Geosystems Inc dealer |
|---|
| Laser Specialist inc |
“I am honored and grateful to Governor Jeff Landry for the trust he has placed in me to lead DOTD," Ledet said. "I look forward to working alongside the agency's dedicated team and partners throughout the state to strengthen Louisiana’s transportation network. Together, we will focus on delivering efficient and safe infrastructure that meets the needs of Louisiana’s residents, communities, and businesses both now and in the future."
Dauphine was formerly the District Engineer Administrator for DOTD’s District 03 in Lafayette, serving eight parishes in the Acadiana area. Dauphine brings with him over 33 years of experience.
That experience began as a General Laborer on an asphalt crew in the early 1990s, working with his father at J.B. Talley Construction. He worked in private industry until he graduated from college and started his career with DOTD in the spring of 1999 as an Engineer Intern. In the 26 years since, Dauphine has held the positions of Project Engineer, Area Engineer, and most recently, District Engineer Administrator. As District Engineer Administrator, he oversaw several departmental functions and responsibilities including roadway design, construction engineering and inspection, materials testing, traffic engineering services, bridge inspection and maintenance, facilities and fleet maintenance, utility and railroad coordination, residential and commercial development permitting, and all roadway maintenance operations on over 2,400 miles of state highways.
Dauphine was born and raised in St. Martinville, Louisiana, and graduated from St. Martinville Sr. High in 1994. He went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from USL in 1999 and his master’s degree in construction management from LSU in 2019.
| Your local Komatsu America Corp dealer |
|---|
| WPI |
| Kirby Smith Machinery |
“I appreciate the opportunity to help lead DOTD during this time of transition, focusing on strategic improvements and comprehensive change needed to enhance departmental operations,” Dauphine said.
A lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Donahue holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a juris doctorate from Louisiana State University, where he graduated with honors. Donahue had a legal career in both private practice and as a civil servant prior to assuming the role of DOTD Secretary in 2024.
He has served in three different state agencies, as an Environmental Scientist at DEQ, as an Attorney for DOTD in multiple capacities, and as an Assistant Attorney General during Landry’s tenure as Attorney General.
“I look forward to continuing the hard work we have begun at DOTD to align the agency for success, and to supporting Secretary Ledet as we work to ensure safe and efficient transportation for the people of Louisiana," Donahue said. "I am also thankful to Governor Landry for his leadership and for the support he has provided during my time as Secretary.”
