Obama picks his cast for top administration, including FHWA head

President Obama’s the star and he’s picking his supporting cast now.

In a Washington Post report today, Obama has picked Victor M. Mendez, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, as administrator for the Federal Highway Administration.

According to the report, Mendez helped to implement Arizona’s multi-billion dollar freeway system and gained experience in transportation funding, technology, infrastructure, research and planning.

Mendez previously worked for the state’s former governor Janet Napolitano before she was picked as Obama’s secretary of homeland security.

Also in a supporting role is Peter H. Appel, whom Obama has nominated for administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration for the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to the Washington Post report.