The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in Orange, CA, has named Darrell Johnson, the current deputy chief executive officer, to take over as CEO effective March 1, 2013. He will succeed Will Kempton, OCTA CEO since 2009, who will step down Feb. 28 to become executive director of Transportation California, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transportation advocacy and education.

Johnson joined OCTA in 2003 and has served in his current post since 2010. Before that, he worked at Amtrak for 12 years, holding positions in operations, planning, and finance and contributing to the development of passenger rail services in California, Oregon, Washington State, and British Columbia.

“Darrell’s superior leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of OCTA are a winning combination for this agency,” said Kempton. “He is well respected among leaders in the transportation industry, as well as employees, and I am confident he will continue moving this agency on a successful path.”

Johnson is an at-large director on the APTA Board of Directors and a member of the Bus and Paratransit CEOs Committee, Commuter & Intercity Rail Legislative Subcommittee, and High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee.

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