Matt Garrett Director of ODOT
The Oregon Department of Transportation has named Michael A. Cobb, diversity manager with the department's Bridge Delivery Unit, as manager of the department's Office of Civil Rights.
Cobb, employed by ODOT since 2004, has 30 years of senior management experience in diversity management, program administration and strategic planning, and servesas implementation manager for ODOT's Workforce Development Plan. Cobb replaces Marie McHone, who willnow focus on internal operations in the Civil Rights office.
"During this time of tremendous growth, Michael Cobb is uniquely positioned to lead ODOT's efforts in our Civil Rights office," said Matt Garrett, ODOT director. "I'm confident in his ability to continue the office's successes — and build on them — as ODOT prepares to deliver its largest construction program ever."
The program referred to by Garrett is the Bridge Delivery Program, a project that will refurbish or replace dilapidated road and highway bridges around the state.
Cobb has spent the past 18 years in the transportation industry. As a department head in New York, he was responsible for managing a 20-year, $2.2 billion capital improvement program with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Railroad.
ODOT's Civil Rights Office houses the department's contractor compliance program, external and internal civil rights (including equal employment opportunity programs), the emerging small business and disadvantaged businesses programs, and other workforce development initiatives.
Cobb will continue helping regional alliances throughout the state implement the ODOT Workforce Development Plan during his transition from Bridge to Civil Rights.
