ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore announces the appointment of Kathryn B. “Katie” Thomson as Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation.
“Maryland is at a critical juncture — we must tackle significant challenges in infrastructure modernization, resilience, and reliability, all at the same time," Moore said. "I am confident that Katie Thomson will help us achieve each of these goals, with capable stewardship and effective leadership.”
Thomson brings more than 30 years of experience in transportation, aviation, energy, and sustainability law, policy, and operations to the role. She most recently served as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, where she acted as Chief Operating Officer for an organization of more than 45,000 employees. In that role, she oversaw a $20 billion annual budget and led initiatives to enhance safety oversight, modernize national airspace infrastructure, and strengthen workforce pipelines.
A veteran of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Thomson previously served as the department’s general counsel, where she supervised 500 attorneys and coordinated legal work across all modes of transportation. She also served as the Director of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s implementation, managing the strategic investment of $660 billion in federal funding to modernize the nation’s infrastructure.
In the private sector, Thomson served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel for worldwide transportation and sustainability at Amazon, leading the legal team supporting global logistics and the company’s climate commitments. Her career also includes serving as a Partner at the law firms Sidley Austin and Morrison & Foerster, with a focus on environmental and transportation law.
| Your local Komatsu America Corp dealer |
|---|
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
“I am deeply grateful to Governor Moore and Lieutenant Governor Miller for this incredible opportunity to serve the great state of Maryland,” Thomson said. “My experience managing complex systems has given me a clear view of the immense potential in Maryland’s transportation network, and I look forward to partnering with the dedicated MDOT team to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead.”
Thomson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
