ATLANTA—A State Transportation Board search committee has unanimously recommended Georgia Department of Transportation Interim Commissioner Keith Golden as the sole candidate for commissioner.
State law requires a 14-day waiting period before the selection can be finalized. Final action must be taken by the full STB and that action is expected at a special called meeting March 1.
A veteran Georgia DOT employee, Golden has been serving as commissioner on an acting basis since Sept. 7, 2011.
“Commissioner Golden took office during a difficult time and has done an excellent job,” STB Chairman Rudy Bowen said. “He knows the department well; is highly regarded by the staff and the General Assembly; works well with this board; and understands Georgia’s transportation issues.”
“The more we looked at the field of candidates — and there were many very qualified individuals to select from — the more we realized the best candidate for the job is already doing it,” added DOT board member Brandon Beach, who chaired the commissioner search committee.
Golden, 48, began his department career in planning and held numerous management positions in traffic engineering and operations. He was director of operations before becoming deputy commissioner and interim commissioner last year.
Golden represents the department on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Subcommittee for Traffic Engineering, the AASHTO Committee for Safety Management, and the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
A registered professional engineer, Golden holds both bachelor’s (1986) and master’s (1989) degrees in civil engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology.
The state Department of Transportation is governed by the Transportation Board whose 13 members, representing each of the state’s congressional districts, exercise general control and supervision of the department.
Each member serves a five-year term and the terms are staggered. Board members are elected by the state representatives and senators whose legislative districts fall within all or part of the congressional district.
