Rhonda Faught, Secretary

Department of Transportation

Since taking over the helm of New Mexico Department of Transportation, Secretary Rhonda Faught has transformed the agency into a true multimodal department with emphasis on all modes of transportation.

Under her leadership, the department successfully implemented park-and-ride services in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Los Alamos and Espanola. Working closely with Governor Richardson, Secretary Faught spearheaded the project for Commuter Rail service between Belen and Bernalillo.  Eventually the service will extend to Santa Fe by the end of 2008.

She also was very instrumental in convincing the New Mexico Legislature to approve a much-needed statewide highway infrastructure improvement package GRIP – Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership.

Faught is no stranger when it comes to breaking the gender barrier. Starting her career in 1988 she worked in various positions, including District Engineer,(the first female district engineer of the  then New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department.)

She also headed the Local Government Assistance Bureau and served as the Adjutant Secretary for the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department.

Going back further in her career, she is one of the first women to receive an engineering degree from New Mexico State University. And first and foremost, she is the first female Secretary to head the New Mexico Department of Transportation in its 100-year history. “Today we make history,” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said when he appointed Rhonda to the position early 2003.

New Mexico lawmakers were so impressed with Faught’s innovative approach in helping local governments that the New Mexico House of Representatives honored Faught during the 1995 session. Also for the same purpose, the City of Las Cruces adopted a day in her honor.

In 2003 Rhonda was once again honored.  The American Public Works Association selected her as one of the Top ten Public Works Leaders for that year.  In the same year, she received the Trailblazer Award by the Commission on the Status of Women. This award recognizes women who have succeeded in non-traditional careers, which are described as careers with generally less than 10% female.

Rhonda’s vision for the Department is crystal clear – she wants to make the New Mexico Department of Transportation great. 

Her vision for the department, not only includes maintaining and improving the state’s highways, but also improving traffic safety by lowering DWI statistics and exploring multimodal transportation, such as rail, aviation and public transportation, in order to make New Mexico competitive in the global economy.