Governor Deval Patrick is set to announce that Worcester native Jeffrey Mullan is being tapped as the state’s new Transportation Secretary in the wake of Jim Aloisi’s abrupt departure.
Mullan has been a longtime transportation wonk, serving for 14 years at Foley Hoag LLP. As a partner in the firm, he worked on many public transportation projects, including the Big Dig and the Greenbush commuter rail line. (He also worked for the Mass Highway Department on the Big Dig).
Since 2007, he has worked for the state in various capacities, including as the Undersecretary at the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works; he added COO responsibilities to that role in 2008 under embattled head Bernard Cohen. Earlier this year, he was appointed the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.
Mullan takes over a department in transition, as well as one lacking stability at the top—he’ll be the third head in a year.
