Trombino to lead Iowa Department of Transportation

Gov. Terry Branstad on Wednesday named Paul Trombino III to succeed Nancy Richardson as director of the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Trombino currently serves as the bureau director of transit, local roads, rails, and harbors for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, where he administers planning, program funding and projects throughout the state, according to a statement from Branstad's office.

“I am pleased to announce that Paul Trombino, an individual with expertise in both the private and public sector, will serve as Director of the Iowa Department of Transportation,” Branstad said in a statement. “Paul's energy, passion for the job and diverse experience within all facets of transportation will serve him well as he leads the Iowa Department of Transportation.”

The Iowa Department of Transportation and its more than 3,000 employees oversees the use and maintenance of more than 9,000 miles of roads and 4,000 bridges throughout the state. The DOT agency also includes divisions that manage motor vehicle, aviation, rail and public transit systems, as well as conducting the planning for Iowa's transportation future.

Trombino previously served as the region operations director of the Wisconsin DOT until 2011 when he took his current position as a bureau director. As region operations director, he managed more than 1,100 state employees that worked on a $1 billion-plus highway construction program. Trombino has also worked for the Wisconsin DOT as bureau director of structures, proposal manager, and as a senior project manager for Earth Tech in Southeast Wisconsin.

Trombino holds a bachelor's of science degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an economics degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Following the November 2010 election, Branstad asked current DOT Director Nancy Richardson to continue in her role through the 2011 legislative session. She will officially retire on Thursday.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Director Richardson for her service to the people of Iowa and the DOT,” Branstad said in a statement. “Nancy's 37 years of service in state government, 29 within the DOT, brought increased efficiency, and superior customer service, and an aggressive, proactive approach in keeping up with the demands of commuters using all forms of Iowa's transportation. I want to thank Director Richardson for her willingness to continue her service as director during these first months of my administration. I wish her all the best as she moves on to enjoy retirement.”