Joan McDonald, a veteran public- and private-sector transportation official, was nominated on Jan. 14 by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to be commissioner of the state transportation department. She must be confirmed by the state Senate. McDonald is currently commissioner of the Connecticut Dept. of Economic and Community Development and has served as senior vice president of transportation for the New York City Economic Development Corp. She also is a former vice president of Jacobs Engineering Group and former deputy commissioner of the city Dept. of Transportation.
Robert B. Leonard has been named administrator of the municipal agency of Sacramento County, Calif., overseeing building and code enforcement, transportation, waste management and water resources, among other areas. He had been director of the county’s department of economic development and intergovernmental affairs and previously served as chief operating officer of its airport system.