SACRAMENTO – Chairman Carl Guardino announced the appointment of Will Kempton as executive director of the California Transportation Commission, effective Jan. 19, 2015.

Kempton will attend his first meeting of the commission as the executive director at its Jan. 22 meeting. 

The commission also acknowledged the pending retirement of Executive Director Andre Boutros, commended him on his leadership and dedication to the commission, thanked him for his 30 years of outstanding service to the people of California, and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Kempton comes to the position as the commission's executive director with more than 40 years of experience in transportation, public service and governmental affairs. 

He currently serves as the executive director of Transportation California, and previously served as the executive director of the Orange County Transportation Authority, director of the California Department of Transportation and executive director of the Santa Clara County Traffic Authority.

The executive director of the California Transportation Commission reports to the 11-member commission and is responsible for overseeing the commission's staff of 17 and its annual budget of $3.8 million. 

The commission is responsible for programming and funding several billion dollars annually for transportation projects throughout California in partnership with regional transportation agencies and the California Department of Transportation.

The commission also is responsible for advising the California State Transportation Agency and the California Legislature on key transportation policy matters.