ITS America appoints Shailen Bhatt as president and CEO

Washington, D.C. — The Board of Directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of America named Shailen Bhatt as president and CEO. Bhatt joins ITS America with an extensive background in promoting and advocating for intelligent transportation, most recently as the executive director of Colorado Department of Transportation.

“Shailen Bhatt is uniquely positioned to drive the mission of ITS America forward as intelligent transportation and connected and autonomous vehicles are poised to dramatically alter the transportation landscape by increasing safety, equity, sustainability and economic opportunity in states and cities across the nation,” said ITS America Board Chairman Chris Murray, CEO of Kapsch TraffiCom North America. “The Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Shailen to ITS America.”

“Shailen’s innovation and drive has pushed the Department of Transportation to work tirelessly to stand up a transportation network that can meet the needs of Colorado,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper. “We wish him the best and can only say ‘watch out’ as he brings his expertise and creativity to a new set of challenges.”

Bhatt also focused on deploying transportation technology, creating the RoadX program and making Colorado a national innovation leader. By teaming with the private sector to shape our transportation future, he launched such efforts as:

• Being selected as one of 10 global finalists and moving forward with a first-of-its-kind feasibility study to build Hyperloop, a new rapid speed travel infrastructure;
• Partnering with OTTO/Uber Trucking to complete the world’s first commercial delivery by a self-driving truck;
• Deploying the world’s first Autonomous Impact Protection Vehicle to protect work zones from distracted drivers;
• Partnering with Panasonic to build the world’s first commercial grade, licensable, Connected Vehicle Ecosystem (CV Ecosystem) and also with HERE to enable vehicle to everything communications.

Bhatt brings a rich portfolio of management and public policy expertise to ITS America through his prior service as cabinet secretary of Delaware DOT and as an Associate Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Bhatt has also played a leadership role on the national stage for transportation policy through his board service on the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Chair of the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE), and Chair of the Vehicle to Infrastructure Deployment Coalition (V2IDC). Bhatt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Western Kentucky University.

“Technology is transforming transportation at a breathtaking pace. Our vision for ITS America is to be the foremost thought leading organization for the 21st century around intelligent transportation,” said Bhatt.

For more information, visit https://itsamerica.org.