President Obama to fill another key DOT position

The Trucker News Services

2/27/2009

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama today nominated individuals for three more key administrative posts, including Roy Kienitz as Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Transportation.

He also tapped Jon Leibowitz for chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and Charlie Rose for general counsel at the Department of Education.

Obama said, “It gives me great confidence to announce the addition of such distinguished individuals to my administration, and I am grateful that they will be dedicating their considerable talents to serving the American people. I look forward to working with each of them as we steer America toward a new era of prosperity and security.”

Kienitz is currently the deputy chief of staff for Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. He has been a leader on Rendell’s staff for transportation, alternative energy, and environment initiatives since 2003. As part of Gov. Rendell’s staff, Kienitz directed a number of major capital projects including the PA Convention Center expansion, Pittsburgh sports arena and the Port of Philadelphia. Prior to his time in Pennsylvania, Kienitz served as secretary of the Maryland department of planning, where he implemented the state’s Smart Growth policies.

Kienitz has also served as the executive director to the Surface Transportation Policy Project where he was “a strong advocate for innovation in transportation policy,” a government news release stated. Kienitz’s prior experience also includes working for the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan as chief of staff and on the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee.

Kienitz has received various awards including the Special Recognition Award from the National Park Service, and the U.S. Department of Interior for work promoting new transportation strategies for National Parks. Originally from California, Kienitz earned his bachelor’s degree in aquatic biology from the University of California in 1983.

Leibowitz is currently the only Democratic Commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission. He was sworn in as FTC Commissioner on September 3, 2004. In joining the Commission, Leibowitz resumed a long career of public service. He was the Democratic chief counsel and staff director for the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee from 1997 to 2000, where he focused on competition policy and telecommunications matters. In the private sector, Leibowitz served most recently as vice president for congressional affairs for the Motion Picture Association of America from 2000 to 2004 and worked as an attorney in private practice in Washington from 1984 to 1986.

Rose is a founding partner and corporate secretary of Franczek, Radelet & Rose in Chicago where he specializes in representing school districts, municipalities and other public organizations in labor relations, collective bargaining and education law. He has served as the lead negotiator on collective bargaining agreements for many organizations including Chicago Public Schools, the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District and the Illinois State Board of Education. Rose is a member of the National Council of School Attorneys and was elected a Fellow of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers in 2008.

The Trucker staff may be reached to comment at editor@thetrucker.com.