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Name: Rogoff, Peter
Current Position: Former Administrator
An expert in federal infrastructure budgeting and finance, Peter M. Rogoff was confirmed on May 21, 2009, as the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. Rogoff spent the past two decades working for the U.S. Senate as a key aide to Democratic lawmakers. His experience on Capitol Hill, which included work on a transportation subcommittee, will come in handy running the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which distributes more than $10 billion a year to support state and local transportation programs across the country.
Rogoff, earned his Bachelor of Arts in American studies at Amherst College, and his MBA degree, with honors, from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.
Prior to being nominated by President Barack Obama, Rogoff served for 22 years on the staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee, including 14 years as the Democratic staff director of its transportation subcommittee. According to his White House biography, he had an active role in the financing of the last three comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization bills dating back to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
He also helped in the establishment of new user fee regimes to finance expanded security measures after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and worked on budget plans for Amtrak, including the initiation and financing of the high speed Acela service, as well as the financing of new light rail and bus rapid transit systems. Rogoff was active in overseeing and reforming troubled procurements in the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, FTA, and the Federal Highway Administration. He was the principal staff strategist for both the .08 blood alcohol content law and the youth drunk driving “zero tolerance” law.
While on Capitol Hill, Rogoff served under Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Patty Murray (D-WA). Congressional staffers attributed the rise of Murray in the Democratic caucus in part to Rogoff, who served as her aide on the transportation and housing subcommittee.
According to OpenSecrets.org, Rogoff donated $2,300 to Obama’s presidential campaign, in addition to the $1,000 he contributed in 2004 to John Kerry’s run for president. Rogoff and his wife, Dina Morris, have a son and a daughter.
Announcement of Rogoff Appointment (White House press release)
Tennis Shoes, Plus Spikes? (by Peter Cohn, National Journal)
