Warren Whitlock is the Deputy Director for Federal Strategies and comes to Race Forward with an extensive background in civil rights, equity and diversity, transportation, academic, public and private sector experience. Warren has distinguished himself throughout his career as being a transformational executive who has achieved many significant accomplishments that have advanced racial equity throughout the United States.
As a member of the federal Senior Executive Service in the capacity as the Associate Administrator for Civil Rights at the Federal Highway Administration, Warren led the federal effort in a first-ever Title VI prosecution against Beavercreek, Ohio. This action led to a recast in the way Title VI is incorporated and enforced into all federal aid supported projects at United States Department of Transportation. Warren’s work in Beavercreek was the genesis of the production of an award-winning documentary entitled, “Free to Ride.” It was also recognized by the US Department of Justice as one of the federal government’s top five Civil Rights actions in 2014 during the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act 1964 commemoration.
A New York City native, Warren’s professional career includes development experience in Somalia, where he lived and worked for four years under the aegis of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and executive tenure on the local, state and federal government levels. Warren earned his AB from Princeton University and his Master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, where he studied as a Charles H. Revson Fellow. Warren is a member of the Urban Land Institute, where, in 2005, he served as a member of a select team that designed the first redevelopment plan for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, a life member of the Senior Executives Association, and other national professional associations. Warren’s volunteer work includes serving as a Trustee of the Morris-Jumel Mansion in Manhattan and as an Advisor to the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.