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Indo-American named commissioner
Attorney Kris Kolluri has been appointed New Jersey's state commissioner of transportation.
Indian American Kris Kolluri has been named New Jersey state's commissioner of transportation.
Kolluri, who worked for several years on Capitol Hill as senior policy advisor to the then House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt, is currently an attorney at the firm of Parker McCay P.A.
As head of the transportation department that looks after construction, operation, maintenance and management of the state's transportation infrastructure, Kolluri will oversee some 3,900 employees and a budget of $2.6 billion.
Announcing the appointment, former US senator and newly elected Governor of New Jersey Jon S. Corzine called Kolluri an "outstanding" candidate and an "excellent" manager who has a "terrific grasp of the pressing issues".
Corzine had several Indian Americans in his transition team and the community is hoping he will make more appointments like Kolluri's because of the amount of support he got in his race for governor.
New Jersey ranks among the three states in the country with the largest number of Indian Americans.
"In a densely populated state like New Jersey, maintaining, expanding and ensuring the safety and security of our vast transportation system is not just a worthy goal, but a crucial duty," Kolluri said in a statement.
"While many challenges are ahead, I am honoured that Governor Corzine has asked me to join in his efforts to build a better New Jersey."
Kolluri immigrated to the US from India in 1985. He did his graduation in Management and Marketing from Rutgers University and obtained a Master of Science degree in International Business from Johns Hopkins University.
In Washington, Kolluri achieved among the highest ranks for Indian Americans working on Capitol Hill with Gephardt who appointed him in 1998 to be the special advisor on India and Indian-American affairs.
