Vinn White has been appointed as the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced today. In this role, White will also serve as the agency’s Acting Administrator.
White has been a member of the Biden-Harris Administration since 2021 and currently serves as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Acting Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. In this capacity, he oversees the implementation of White House Executive Order 14110, which aims to advance and regulate the development and use of AI.
“It is an honor to take on this role, and I thank Secretary Buttigieg for his trust and confidence in my ability to lead the important work of FMCSA,” said White. “Our agency is focused on enhancing safety for all roadway users, and I am committed to working with safety partners across the commercial motor vehicle industry to get this work done.”
White will succeed Sue Lawless, who has been serving as Acting Deputy Administrator and Acting Administrator since January, following the departure of former FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson after 16 months in the job. Lawless will continue in her prior role as FMCSA’s Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer.
Guided emerging technologies
Before joining FMCSA, White coordinated USDOT initiatives on emerging transportation technologies. This included policies related to automated driving systems, drone and advanced air mobility systems, vehicle-to-everything connectivity, and 5G integration with the nation’s critical aviation infrastructure. He led the development of the Department’s Innovation Principles and helped launch the Transforming Transportation advisory committee.
White’s 2021 appointment marked a return to USDOT after his service as Acting Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary in 2016, where he was the chief architect for USDOT’s 30-year transportation plan, Beyond Traffic.
With over 15 years of experience in transportation, White has also served as a senior advisor to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, focusing on transportation and mobility policy. He worked closely with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Commission, NJ TRANSIT, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to shape state strategies and approaches.
White holds a master of arts in Justice, Law and Society and a bachelor of science in Law and Society from American University. He also attended the County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey, where he earned an associate degree in criminal justice.
