Iowa DOT Director Trombino announces resignation

After less than six years at the helm of the Iowa Department of Transportation, its director announced he'll step down.

Paul Trombino III's departure comes as the department, which employs more than 2,600 people, addresses growth in statewide freight traffic - the number of large trucks on Iowa's primary roads has grown by 123 percent over the past three decades - and infrastructure updates, including the overhaul of the Interstate 80 and Interstate 380 interchange, among other major projects.

Trombino's letter of resignation, effective Nov. 28, was submitted to the Governor's office on Wednesday.

Trombino, 50, said he's ready for a new chapter.

'Everybody knows this job is temporary, and it's meant to be that way,” Trombino said Thursday. 'It was a great professional experience in my life and I've cherished every single day. We've done some amazing things and the department is in great shape moving forward, and I thought it was a good time for me to take the next step.”

He added that he 'didn't feel good looking for a job while I'm in this job. ...

So I felt the best way would be for me to resign and then take a few weeks or so to really get a better sense of what opportunities are out there.”

Trombino - who makes about $147,000 annually as DOT director - said he doesn't know his next step, but he said, 'I want to continue to have an impact on transportation and have an impact on improving communities and ultimately improving economic opportunities and development.”

Branstad appointed Trombino as DOT director in May 2011, and he was confirmed by the Iowa Senate in June of that year.

Ben Hammes, Gov. Terry Branstad's spokesman, said the Governor's Office likely will pursue a nationwide search for Trombino's replacement.

'We'll try to find the best person for the job,” he said. 'We were very thankful for (Trombino's) leadership in the DOT, he really modernized and brought innovation to the department.

'We were told that he was pursuing other opportunities, and we fully respect that.”

For some state officials and legislators - and for DOT staff, according to Andrea Henry, communications director - Trombino's announcement was unexpected.

'I'm very surprised,” said John Putney, vice chairman of the Iowa Transportation Commission. 'I wish him the best, but it would have been nice to hear it from him than from second parties, as a commissioner.”

State Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, chairman of the Transportation Committee, also was surprised by Trombino's decision. He added that, 'He was incredibly knowledgeable and he worked in a bipartisan way, so I was very proud to be right there in the weeds with him on some of the issues he worked on.”

Iowa's infrastructure 'was crumbling and we're certainly not where we want to be, but we're moving in the right direction, and I think director Trombino put his efforts in that process,” Bowman said.

State Rep. Josh Byrnes, R-Osage, chairman of the Iowa House Transportation committee, described Trombino's resignation as a 'huge loss.”

'Director Trombino has put Iowa on the global map with his approach to logistics and transportation. (He) has incorporated technology and used an economic vision to make the Iowa DOT a model for other state DOTs,” Byrnes said.

Trombino cited building leadership development within the department, enhancing efficiencies and opening the door to Iowa's first venture into automated vehicle technologies as some of his accomplishments on the job.

Before coming to Iowa, Trombino worked with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for 17 years, according to the Iowa DOT website. He was elected last year as president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials board of directors.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau reporter Erin Murphy contributed to this report.

l (319) 339-3175; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com