The new South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) secretary was sworn in Tuesday afternoon. Justin Powell was sworn in at a ceremony held at the Department of Transportation headquarters in Columbia.
He is replacing Christy Hall, who retired in March after 30 years of service.
The State Senate unanimously confirmed Powell on April 2
“I appreciate the trust and confidence of the South Carolina Senate in my ability to lead this organization,” Powell said in a statement. “It is an honor to serve and to me there is no higher calling than to serve the people of South Carolina. I look forward to continuing the tremendous progress of the South Carolina Department of Transportation and to the bright future ahead for all South Carolinians.”
Powell was appointed by the SCDOT Commission on Jan.18. The appointment was reviewed by the Senate Transportation Committee, which voted unanimously to send a favorable report on Powell’s appointment to the full Senate for consideration.
“Mr. Powell has demonstrated he is ready to lead SCDOT into the future as the Secretary of Transportation,” SCDOT Commission Chair Pamela Christopher said. “Together, we will continue our work to improve the road and bridge network across the state and to keep South Carolina moving.”
Powell was previously the Chief Operating Officer of SCDOT where he managed the day-to-day operations of SCDOT including its $5 billion construction program and the maintenance of the nation's fourth-largest state highway system.
Powell joined SCDOT in 2019 as Deputy Secretary for Finance and Administration, overseeing SCDOT's $2.7 billion budget and the growth of the agency's construction program from $3 billion to $5 billion.
“We are at an important juncture as we work to bring the agency’s Strategic 10-Year Plan to a successful close and continue positioning South Carolina for the future. We remain committed to building a better road and bridge network and ensuring prosperity for all,” Powell Stated, he added. “Each of these leaders brings their own strengths to help us build a better South Carolina. They each have my full confidence and I know they will do great things on behalf of the people we serve.”
So far, Powell has appointed the following individuals to his leadership team:
Rob Perry, P.E. – Deputy Secretary for Engineering
Karl McCottry – Deputy Secretary for Finance and Administration
Jennifer Necker, P.E. – Deputy Secretary for Intermodal and Freight
Brent Rewis, P.E. – Deputy Secretary for Planning
