Profiles in Power highlights public officials nationwide who are improving their communities through their dedication, enthusiasm, creativity, and experience.
This week’s profile is Joseph Jarrin, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance and Budget of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Public career highlights: I was appointed principal deputy assistant secretary for finance and budget at the U.S. Department of Transportation in June 2022, after serving as the senior adviser for management and budget since December 2021. In this role, I work to ensure sound budget development, execution and financial management for the department’s $144 billion annual budget and the delivery of the $660 billion program authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
What I like best about public service: I have been privileged to serve in public service roles that help improve people’s lives. During my time in New York’s city government, I had the opportunity to work on transformational projects like the “Vision Zero” street safety improvements that substantially reduced traffic fatalities, the expansion of mobility options and recreational space, the infrastructure repairs in response to the 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy disasters, and the modernization of systems for critical functions, including emergency response.
The best advice I’ve received: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” It may be due to the focus my career has had in financial and performance management, which both require measurement. But I have not found an issue or question that couldn’t be addressed in some form through the establishment of metrics to understand the problem needing fixing and the subsequent fix.
People might be interested to know that: I joined USDOT within weeks of the passing of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and less than three years later, USDOT has delivered tremendous outcomes with the BIL funding. This includes the advancement of over 60,000 transportation construction projects and 11,200 public transit projects, with improvements for over 175,000 miles of roadway, more than 10,200 bridges, 4,600 buses, 1,100 airports and 170 rail projects, including the nation’s first high-speed rail.
One thing I wish more people knew about the USDOT: USDOT is made up of over 55,000 committed and talented employees who day-in, day-out are serving the American people. This includes the nation’s air traffic controllers, roadway engineers, planners, analysts, technicians, safety inspectors, and so many others working to keep the traveling public safe and secure, increase their mobility, and have our transportation system contribute to the nation’s economic growth. This is a great place to work!
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