Daphne Jefferson Retires from No. 2 Post at FMCSA
Daphne Jefferson, deputy administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, is retiring effective Nov. 3 from her post as the No. 2 leader at the agency, an FMCSA spokesman said.
Jefferson became the agency’s deputy in February 2015 after serving as counselor to the chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation in the office of the secretary.
FMCSA is expected to soon name Cathy Gautreaux, who has been the executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association for the past 28 years, as Jefferson’s replacement, according to an industry source. While Gautreaux could not be reached for comment, the LMTA website, without mentioning the deputy position specifically, announced Gautreaux is leaving “to work in a leadership capacity” at FMCSA.
The deputy administrator post does not require Senate confirmation.
Ray Martinez, recently nominated by President Donald Trump to head FMCSA, is moving through the Senate confirmation process. Jefferson has been serving as the acting administrator.
Jefferson also served as the director of business integration in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer. At NASA, she directed the development and implementation of financial management policies, processes and procedures, ensured the integration of financial management regulations with NASA’s agency-wide business systems and led the workforce development effort for the financial management community.
Jefferson began her federal career with the Federal Aviation Administration. Over a 20-year period she held positions of increasing responsibility within the Air Traffic Control Service, including managing air traffic control field facilities and serving as manager of the Meteorological Support Branch in Washington.
