David S. Kim, secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) since 2019, joined WSP USA as the firm’s national transportation policy and multimodal strategy principal.
In his new position, Kim will work with WSP’s Advisory national business line, collaborating with public and private senior transportation executives across the U.S. He will guide policy-making that supports federal funding for transportation projects anticipated under the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and he will guide the delivery of transportation capital projects.
Kim’s career in public service spans more than 35 years, including nearly 20 years in transportation leadership. He previously served the Obama Administration as deputy administrator and associate administrator for the Federal Highway Administration, and as deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
From 2004-2009, he served in several leadership roles for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, including head of LA Metro’s Government Relations Department in Washington, D.C. From 2017-2019, he worked in the private sector as vice president of government affairs for the Hyundai Motor Company.
In July 2019 he was appointed as the third secretary of CalSTA by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the cabinet-level agency responsible for 40,000 employees across eight departments, boards and commissions.
Under his leadership, CalSTA focused on advancing safe, accessible low-carbon multimodal transportation systems. His agency developed the state’s Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure, an aggressive framework to overhaul transportation planning and project selection by aligning transportation investments with climate, health and equity goals.
“I am pleased to welcome David to the Advisory national business line,” said Denise Turner Roth, Advisory national business line executive. “David’s experience with federal and state transportation policy and projects over the past two decades makes him a perfect fit for this important national leadership role at WSP. His first-hand understanding of the complex issues and funding challenges those agencies face will prove to be an invaluable asset as they collaborate with WSP to develop and optimize their financial, environmental and delivery processes in advance of major capital programs.”
Earlier in his career, Kim served on the staff of elected officials in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Washington, including more than four years as deputy director in the California Governor’s Office, and as a senior legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (currently U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services).
Kim is a graduate of Occidental College with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in public administration. During his tenure as CalSTA secretary, Kim served as a member of the ITS America Board of Directors, the Mineta Transportation Institute Board of Trustees and the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies Board of Advisors.
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Source: WSP USA
