MDOT Executive Leadership

Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson

Governor Wes Moore appointed Kathryn “Katie” Thomson as secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation on December 18, 2025.

Secretary 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, Secretary 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, Secretary 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.

Secretary Thomson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Deputy Secretary of Transportation Oluseyi Olugbenle

Oluseyi Olugbenle was appointed deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, effective mid-October 2026.

Olugbenle brings extensive experience in transportation, public works, infrastructure, and management to the role. She most recently served as acting director of the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation, where she led daily operations for a 450-person department serving Maryland’s second-most populous jurisdiction.

In that role, Olugbenle oversaw a broad range of services and operations, including highway and stormwater infrastructure, engineering and capital delivery, and multimodal transportation. Before joining Prince George’s County, she served as director of the Maryland Transit Administration’s Office of Planning and Capital Programming, where she worked on transportation planning and capital program development.

Raised in Prince George’s County, Olugbenle is committed to community service and has dedicated more than 20 years to youth mentorship.

She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Jawauna Greene

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Strategy

With a transportation career spanning more than 20 years, Jawauna has held numerous public sector roles. She formerly worked at the Maryland Port Administration as a legislative liaison and then the Maryland Transit Administration as the Director of Communications and Marketing. After leaving MDOT, Jawauna served as the Director of Advertising and Marketing at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Prior to joining MDOT, she was the Director of Branding and Customer Partnerships for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Jawauna has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hood College and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland.

Joe McAndrew

Assistant Secretary for Project Development and Delivery

Joe joins MDOT after serving as Vice President of Government Affairs and Infrastructure for the Greater Washington Partnership. In this role, he led the Partnership’s policy and engagement work with federal, state and local elected officials, and led efforts to achieve a 21st century regional mobility and infrastructure ecosystem in the Capital Region. Prior to joining the Partnership, Joe served as legislative assistant for the Senate Commerce Committee and Senator Brian Schatz. Before working on Capitol Hill, he served as the Policy Director for Transportation for America. Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Luther College and a master’s degree in community and regional planning from the University of Oregon.

Percy Dangerfield

Assistant Secretary for Administration

Dr. Percy Dangerfield joins the Secretary's Office after serving 13 years as the Maryland Transportation Authority's Chief Administrative Officer, including a period as Acting Executive Director. Prior to joining MDTA, Dr. Dangerfield held leadership positions with the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport System and the Maryland State Highway Administration. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, a Master of Business Administration, a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential from the Society for Human Resource Management, a certification in Driving Government Performance from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology with an emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Drew Morrison

Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs and Outreach

Drew Morrison was named Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs and Outreach after serving as the Department’s Senior Policy Advisor for Planning and Project Development.

Prior to joining MDOT, Drew began his career as a legislative aide to former Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner, focusing on transportation, infrastructure, energy, and environmental matters. He later spent seven years as a project manager at VHB, overseeing major infrastructure and policy initiatives throughout the Washington region. During his time at MDOT, Drew has supported the capital budget, transit-oriented development, environmental policy, safety, and WMATA. He has also served as the Department’s interim Washington Area Transit Director and supported the Department’s response to the Key Bridge collapse in March 2024.

Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Yale University and master’s degrees in city planning and business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Wayne Heibeck

Chief of Staff

As Chief of Staff, Wayne Heibeck serves as Secretary Thomson's key advisor to ensure priorities are advanced, decisions are well informed, and the organization operates with clarity and alignment. He serves as a connector across the executive leadership team, translating strategy into action, driving cross-functional initiatives, and enhancing organizational effectiveness and daily operations.

Prior to joining MDOT, Mr. Heibeck served as Associate Administrator for Airports (Acting) and Deputy Associate Administrator for Airports for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), overseeing 750 employees that execute the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs). In addition, as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Administrator, he served as the primary technical advisor to the Deputy Administrator and liaison to the U.S. Department of Transportation on all FAA matters. Mr. Heibeck also served in numerous other leadership roles at FAA, including Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Policy, International Affairs and Environment; Executive Director, Office of National Engagement and Regional Administration; Deputy Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming; and Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives Group; among others. Before joining the FAA, he served as an auditor for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General.

Mr. Heibeck received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University and has earned numerous accolades and awards for his leadership in the aviation industry and his commitment to teamwork and collaboration.