Shaz Umer serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation.

He previously served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy and brings a decade of experience working at the crossroads of transportation policy, emerging technology, and public-sector innovation. Prior to rejoining DOT, Shaz led strategy and proposal development for an autonomous vehicle tech company supporting mobility initiatives across federal, state, and local agencies. He holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

As Director of Strategic Initiatives, Shaz will advance a portfolio of next-generation mobility initiatives, including autonomous vehicles, spectrum management, modernizing public transit, and strengthening America’s infrastructure.

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