Louisiana Governor-Elect Edwards announces new head of DOTD

Updated Dec 21, 2015

Louisiana-SignLouisiana Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards has announced who will be the new head of the state’s Department of Transportation and Development when the new leadership takes over in January.

Edwards selected Shawn Wilson to run the department after 10 years as the DOTD chief of staff. Wilson will take over for current DOTD Secretary Sherri LeBas, who has held the position since 2010.

“It has been a wonderful journey since the day I began working for the Secretary of DOTD more than 10 years ago,” Wilson said.

“I want to thank Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards for selecting me to lead this Department. I would also like to thank current Secretary Sherri LeBas and past Secretaries Johnny Bradberry and Bill Ankner for all of their efforts to make Louisiana the best it can be. I learned a lot from each of them, as well as previous Secretaries that are still active in the transportation industry. Sherri and have worked closely together throughout the years, and there will be a smooth transition for the Department as we move forward.”

Wilson was previously the executive director of the Louisiana Serve Commission and deputy legislative director under former Governor Kathleen Blanco where he focused on transportation policies.

He recently received his Ph.D in public policy from Southern University in Baton Rouge, and previously got his master’s degree from Southern and a bachelors in urban and regional planning from University of Louisiana at Lafayette.