Moore taps new transportation secretary, energy administration director

Gov. Wes Moore announced new appointments Thursday to head state agencies for energy and transportation.

In his search for a new director of the Maryland Energy Administration, Moore, a Democrat, tapped Kelly Speakes-Backman to replace former Director Paul Pinsky, who retired earlier this year after almost 40 years in public service.

“Kelly Speakes-Backman is a trailblazer in the energy industry with the deep expertise and track record to lead the Maryland Energy Administration,” Moore said in a statement. “She is a proven public servant who believes in our state, understands our energy system, and knows how to turn policy into lasting results.”

Speakes-Backman most recently worked as the executive vice president of public affairs at the power generation development and operations company Invenergy, where she led its global corporate communications and government relations strategy. Prior to her time there, Speakes-Backman served as the acting assistant secretary and principal deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Moore’s appointment of Speakes-Backman signals her return to Maryland state government.

Under former Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, Speakes-Backman was a member of the Maryland Public Service Commission, during which time she oversaw the implementation of the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act and presided over major utility rate cases.

Before joining the Public Service Commission, she was the Maryland Energy Administration’s director of clean energy.

“We are proud to welcome her back to state service as we work together to build a more affordable, competitive, and sustainable future for all Marylanders,” Moore said.

The governor additionally announced Thursday that he appointed Kathryn B. “Katie” Thomson as the acting secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation. 

She is to officially assume the role on Jan. 7, and her appointment will need to be approved by the state Senate before she can take on the position permanently.

“We had an exceptional pool of candidates, and Katie Thomson’s deep experience in both federal transportation leadership and the private sector stood out,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna K. Miller, the Democrat who led the national search for secretary of transportation following the resignation of former Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.

Thompson most recently served as the deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, where she worked as the chief operating officer for an organization of more than 45,000 employees and managed a $20 billion annual budget.

She also worked as general counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation, supervising 500 attorneys. Additionally, Thompson directed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s implementation, during which time she managed a $660 billion federal funding investment to modernize infrastructure across the U.S.

In the private sector, Thompson served as vice president and associate general counsel for worldwide transportation and sustainability at Amazon and was a partner at the law firms Sidley Austin and Morrison & Foerster.

“I am deeply grateful to Governor Moore and Lieutenant Governor Miller for this incredible opportunity to serve the great State of Maryland,” Thomson said in a statement. “My experience managing complex systems has given me a clear view of the immense potential in Maryland’s transportation network, and I look forward to partnering with the dedicated MDOT team to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead—ensuring we continue to build a future that leaves no one behind.”