Following Pollack’s departure, Tesler named acting transportation secretary

Jamey Tesler became the state’s acting transportation secretary on Jan. 27 after Stephanie Pollack left to join the Biden-Harris administration in Washington as the new deputy secretary for the Federal Highway Administration.

Pollack had led the Massachusetts Department of Transportation since Gov. Charlie Baker took office in January 2015. Last June, she appointed Tesler as the registrar at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles after he had served for a year as acting registrar.

In a statement, Tesler said, “Working with Secretary Pollack for most of the last five years has been a master class in transportation policy, and I am happy to be able to use that knowledge to continue advancing the programs and policies we have been working on together for so long.”

Tesler’s previous transportation-related roles include chief operating officer, chief of staff, deputy secretary of legal policy and planning, and assistant secretary for procurement and contract management for MassDOT, and deputy general counsel for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. He also served as general counsel for the state treasurer from 2011 to 2013, and as deputy legal counsel for the governor’s office from 2001 to 2004.

Colleen Ogilvie, who had been the deputy registrar and chief operating officer, is now serving as the acting registrar.

Pollack began her new job on Jan. 27, and will also serve as the acting administrator of the FHA until the U.S. Senate confirms a permanent administrator.

“Stephanie has worked so hard for the communities of Massachusetts,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito in a statement. “The successes of the Small Bridge, Complete Streets, and the more recent Shared Streets and Spaces programs show the commitment to local infrastructure that has been a hallmark of MassDOT during her tenure.”

Gov. Charlie Baker credited Pollack for bringing stability to the department, helping the state manage transportation issues through historic blizzards, addressing problems at both the MBTA and the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and instituting a data-driven capital improvement plan, among other accomplishments.

“We are so grateful for Stephanie’s service to the Commonwealth and congratulate her on her new appointment,” Baker said.