The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday confirmed Gregory D. Winfree, Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation, as the sole finalist for the position of director for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).
Winfree would replace Dennis L. Christiansen, P.E., Ph.D., who is stepping down after 10 years as TTI Director and 45 years of service at the Institute. Under state law, governing boards must name finalists at least 21 days before making an official appointment. The Board of Regents will meet again to consider the final appointment.
Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp thanked Dr. Christiansen for his years of service to TTI and his dedication to transportation issues. He also welcomed Mr. Winfree to the A&M community.
“Gregory Winfree’s background in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, disciplines will serve TTI well,” Chancellor Sharp said. “We are lucky to get another exceptional and innovative mind on the team at TTI.”
Winfree, an avid motorcycle rider who has cruised U.S. highways from coast to coast on many occasions, joined the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology in March 2010 and was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary on January 23, 2014. During his tenure, Winfree has served as Chief Counsel, Deputy Administrator, and Administrator of the predecessor agency, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).
Prior to his USDOT appointments, Winfree served as Litigation Counsel for several Fortune 500 corporations operating in a number of technical industries. Prior to his in-house corporate legal work, Winfree was a Trial Attorney in the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. He started his legal career as an Associate at a prominent Washington, D.C.-based law firm.
Winfree earned a B.S. degree from St. John’s University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.
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