David H. Hugel, administrator for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, has been named deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, effective May 30, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced. He replaces Warren Hoemann, who left the agency May 13.
John Hill, assistant administrator and chief safety officer, currently serves as acting deputy administrator. On May 16, the same day as the announcement of Hugel’s appointment, the White House announced President Bush’s intention to nominate Hill as the new FMCSA administrator, replacing Annette Sandberg.
“David Hugel has a strong record on management and motor vehicle safety issues,” Mineta said. “As the number of trucks and buses on our roads continues to increase, David will play a critical role in helping reduce the severity and number of crashes involving trucks and motor coaches.”
Hugel joined Maryland MVA in April 2003 as deputy administrator and was named administrator in September of that year. For six years prior to joining that agency, Hugel was an on-site consultant at the Department of Transportation assisting FMCSA and its predecessor agency, the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Motor Carriers with the implementation of changes to the commercial driver’s license program and other revisions to the safety regulations. From 1987 to 1995, he was director of government affairs for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
Hugel, 64, served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. He holds a law degree and a master of science in criminal justice from the University of Baltimore. He is married and has two grown sons.
