A native of Apple Valley, California, Matsuda, 37, earned his Bachelor of Science in engineering from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, and his J.D. from the University of San Diego’s School of Law, passing his bar exam in 1992.

 

Matsuda spent four years (1998-2002) working as an attorney in the safety law division of DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration, before shifting to Capitol Hill. He started out as a Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute Fellow serving on the staff of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. For his first two years, he was mentored by senior staff member Debbie Hersman, who was later picked by President Obama to chair the National Transportation Safety Board. Matsuda eventually became senior counsel and primary transportation advisor to Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), positions he held for six years.

 

In March 2009, Matsuda was appointed Acting Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, a post he held only for a few months. President Obama then appointed him Deputy Maritime Administrator in late July, setting the stage for his nomination to the agency’s top post in December. He was finally sworn inas administrator on June 25, 2010.

 

Matsuda’s wife, Catherine Parsons Matsuda, works in the technology policy industry and is currently Director of Development for the Internet Education Foundation.

 

David T. Matsuda (Maritime Administration)

The Role of Research in Addressing Climate Change in Transportation Infrastructure (Statement by David Matsuda) (pdf)