Oceanside, CA: North County Transit – San Diego Railroad (NCTD) has appointed Lori A. Winfree to serve as the agency’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Winfree will serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors as the agency embarks on several defining mega-projects on the eve of its 50th anniversary. She will also continue her role as NCTD’s Chief General Counsel, with responsibility for the agency’s workers’ compensation, risk management, safety, and legal teams.
“Lori’s leadership has pushed this agency to be the very best version of itself for more than a decade,” said Shawn M. Donaghy, NCTD’s Chief Executive Officer. “Her knowledge of every corner of this agency from bus to rail, maintenance to administration, and – most importantly – the respect that she has earned from our workforce has put her right there with the top leaders in our industry.”
Winfree, an alumna of the University of California, Los Angeles, began her career in transportation with Lufthansa Airlines as she worked toward her Juris Doctorate. Her work in aviation law helped set the groundwork for her eventual move to public transit at North County Transit – San Diego Railroad in 2013.
“I am honored to be appointed by the NCTD Board of Directors as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer on the recommendation of our CEO Shawn M. Donaghy,” said Winfree. “I look forward to continuing to support the Board of Directors, CEO, and awesome employees in this expanded capacity as we work together to elevate NCTD’s transit operations and surrounding communities.”
Winfree was pivotal during NCTD’s negotiations regarding track rights and usage agreements as the owner of the railroad in San Diego County with partners at Metrolink, Amtrak, and BNSF. Her guidance helped shape the successful insourcing of rail operations and maintenance and will continue to be integral to the upcoming transition of bus operations and maintenance. Additionally, she has assisted in critical projects such as the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Realignment, SPRINTER hybrid rail vehicle replacement, COASTER locomotive and cab car replacement, and other key capital and infrastructure projects.
Winfree serves as the Secretary for the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee of the federal Surface Transportation Board. In addition, she represents the agency in various capacities, including through NCTD’s partners at the California Transit Association and the American Public Transportation Association as well as with economic development councils and legislative activities at the federal and state levels.
