Governor-Elect O'Malley Taps Porcari as Transportation Secretary

Governor-elect Martin O'Malley today announced his selection of John D. Porcari, Vice President for Administrative Affairs at the University of Maryland, to serve as his Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation. The appointment will become effective in mid-January, 2007.

Gubernatorial appointments require Senate confirmation, which is expected prior to January 17, 2007.

Since 2003, Porcari has served as the university's Chief Administrative and Finance Officer. He oversaw seven departments within the Division of Administrative Affairs, which includes Personnel Services, Comptroller, Public Safety, Facilities Management, Environmental Safety, Business Services and Procurement & Supply.

Porcari's broad background in business and economic development, environmental planning and public policy has served Maryland well. He has been an outspoken advocate of Route 1 redevelopment and M-Square, the university's research park at the College Park Metro station. He has also taken on leadership roles on behalf of the campus in his work with the City of College Park and the development community. Porcari spearheaded the initial stages of the East Campus development project, which will ultimately bring a wide array of mixed-use resources to serve the university and the community.

"From his first day at Maryland in 2003 to today, John's service to the campus has been extraordinary. He connected personally with the campus immediately on his arrival and oversaw the broad range of university-wide administrative activities," said C. Dan Mote, Jr., University of Maryland president. "On behalf of the entire University of Maryland family, I want to thank John for his outstanding contributions to the development of the university and wish him equally distinguished achievements as the leader of the State's transportation program."

Porcari came to the University of Maryland after serving as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation under then-Governor Parris N. Glendening.

"I have been honored to work with Dr. Mote and his cabinet, and to be a member of the University of Maryland family," said Porcari. "We all want to be part of an institution that is building its reputation, rather than resting on it. That is certainly true of our university. I look forward to continuing to work with my University of Maryland colleagues in this new position."

In January 2007, the university will begin a search for Porcari's successor as Vice President for Administrative Affairs.