Christopher Coes is the former Acting Under Secretary of Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), where he served as the Department’s third-highest-ranking official. In this role, he led a team of 1,100 professionals responsible for overseeing the implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, managing grant programs, shaping regulations, and advising the Secretary on critical issues, including safety, aviation, finance, international affairs, decarbonization, innovation, project delivery, and equity.
Appointed by President Biden in 2021 and later unanimously confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, Christopher was a key architect behind USDOT’s major policy initiatives. His contributions include authoring the Department’s five-year strategic plan, the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, the DOT Equity Action Plan, and the National Roadway Safety Plan. He also developed and directed over $30 billion in multimodal and transformative infrastructure investments, launching programs such as the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program, MEGA, and Safe Streets and Roads for All.
Christopher spearheaded first-of-their-kind initiatives, including the Thriving Communities Initiative and the Thriving Communities Network, fostering public-private partnerships to support community-driven infrastructure innovations in underserved areas. He also co-chaired the Justice40 Interagency Council (2021-2022) and led the Partnership with Philanthropy Initiative, advancing interagency coordination and investment in community-led solutions.
Prior to his government service, Christopher was Vice President for Land Use and Development at Smart Growth America, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Professor at George Washington University, and Deputy Director and Senior Advisor for the Transportation for America campaign.