Office Leadership
Joe DeLorenzo, Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight and Chief Safety Officer
Joseph "Joe" DeLorenzo is FTA’s Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight and Chief Safety Officer. The FTA Office of Transit Safety and Oversight administers a national transit safety program and monitors program compliance to ensure safe, reliable and equitable transit service in accordance with FTA policy and regulatory requirements. The office implements and oversees safety standards for all modes of public transit in the United States.
Before joining FTA, Mr. DeLorenzo served as the Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Agency’s Director of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance, where he was responsible for policy and program development for the Agency’s enforcement and compliance program.
Mr. DeLorenzo comes to the FTA with more than 30 years of experience in the transportation industry. Mr. DeLorenzo's career includes over 15 years of in-field experience that extends to managing training and education related to Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety and Security as Director of FMCSA’s National Training Center. In that role, he was responsible for a wide range of Commercial Vehicle Safety training for Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies in the areas of Commercial Motor Vehicle and Hazardous Materials Safety and Security, Criminal Interdiction and professional development.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Sociology and a Master’s in Public Policy and Management.
Dr. Melonie Barrington, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight
Dr. Melonie Barrington is the Acting Deputy Associate Administrator in the FTA Office of Transit Safety and Oversight (TSO).
Dr. Barrington has over 20 years of government experience spanning all aspects of transportation systems and programs. She began her Federal career in 2011 as a Transportation Specialist with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Safety where she worked with FHWA Division Offices and State and local partners on safety and grant programs. Before joining FTA, Dr. Barrington spent the last five years leading the Transportation Training Development Section for the FHWA, National Highway Institute that provides technical training and resource materials to the transportation community across the country and U.S. territories in over seventeen transportation areas.
She holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University, Master of Engineering in Project Management from the University of Maryland and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. Dr. Barrington is a licensed professional engineer.
TSO Organization Structure
- Learn more about our Organization Structure.
- Learn more about our Program Offices: