Related Link: http://www.transportation.orgPeter J. "Jack" Basso joined AASHTO as Chief Operating Officer and Business Development Director in March of 2001. In that capacity, he oversees the management of a $60 million nonprofit organization representing the interests of State Departments of Transportation. He develops new member services, and more aggressively markets current technical services provided for AASHTO members. Basso works closely with Congressional staff and other associations who have mutual interests in Transportation financing issues. He is a nationally recognized expert on transportation finance.
Prior to joining AASHTO, Basso served as Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and as Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Transportation. In that capacity, he oversaw the development of a $60 billion budget and interacted with senior officials, members of Congress, their staff, and key industry officials on a wide variety of transportation matters. Prior to his appointment by President Clinton to this position, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs.
Basso's thirty six years of service as a career official included assignments such as Assistant Director for General Management of the Office of Management and Budget, Deputy Chair for Management of the National Endowment for the Arts, and Director of Fiscal Services for the Federal Highway Administration. He has held numerous positions in administration and management with the Federal Highway Administration.
Basso has served as a board member and Chair of numerous councils, including five years as a member of the President's Council on Management Improvement representing the independent agencies of the Executive Branch, and serving five years as Chair of the Small Agency Council. He also served as a member of the Consolidated Administrative Support Units Board of Directors. Basso currently serves as a board member of the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Basso earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland at College Park and continued graduate study in General Administration at the university from 1980 to 1981.
Basso has been recognized through numerous awards in his career, which include: the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive in 1989 and 1997; Senior Executive Service Bonus Awards 1991 thorough 1996; the President's Council on Management Improvement, Special Recognition Award, 1990; Executive Achievement Award, 1988; Senior Executives Association, Distinguished Service Award 1987; National Endowment for the Arts, Faculty Excellence Award; USDA Graduate School, 1987; SES Performance Awards, 1985 thorough 1988; and the Administrator's Award for Superior Achievement (Bronze Metal), 1980.
