Petty, Kenneth N Director, Office of Planning In August 2014, Kenneth (Ken) N. Petty II became FHWA's Director for the Office of Planning.  He is responsible for leading and advocating for the statewide, metropolitan, rural, and tribal transportation planning program; responsible for directing the development of policies, regulations, directives, and techniques to carry out the transportation planning program and process; conducting applied and advanced research on transportation data and analysis tools; and working with State, Federal, and international partners in Mexico and Canada to cooperatively address the challenges of improving mobility and security at land border crossings. Prior to his appointment as Director, he served as the Planning Capacity Building Team Leader in the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty where he provided strategic direction in developing Federal regulations and policies relating to the implementation of performance-based transportation planning programs.  His team had the lead for developing and delivering products and services that provide information, training, and technical assistance to transportation professionals responsible for planning for the needs of the nation's surface transportation system.  In addition, Ken was instrumental in leading national efforts to integrate planning and environmental programs, and streamlining processes to accelerate the delivery of transportation projects.  He served for 10 years as a Transportation Specialist where he managed multiple FHWA Discretionary Grant Programs and led and conducted comprehensive intermodal and multi-modal transportation planning research activities.  He has worked with various offices and stakeholders on efforts including but not limited to the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; the HUD/DOT/EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities; Statewide and Metropolitan Planning Regulations; Transportation Planning Capacity Building; Planning Grant Administration, Consolidated Planning Grant Program, and Flexible Funding; Asset Management; and Tribal Transportation Planning.  Ken began his career with FHWA in 1996 as an Office Automation Clerk in the former Office of Program Development.   Ken holds a Master of Business Administration Degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of the District of Columbia.