Pritzker names Osman to head IDOT
Friday, Feb 22, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers this could happen earlier today…
Gov. Pritzker Appoints 29-Year IDOT Veteran to Lead Department
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following personnel appointment:
Omer Osman will serve as Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Osman has over 29 years of experience in the civil engineering and management field at IDOT. In his most recent role as Deputy Secretary for the Office of Project Implementation, he is responsible for guiding day-to-day program delivery and developing both short- and long-term technical policies and procedures. Prior to his current position, Osman served as the Director of Highways, Deputy Director of Region 5 and District Four Project Implementation and Operations Engineer. He has been an integral member of the statewide Diversity and Recruitment Team that had managed to increase and integrate a diverse population of IDOT’s technical staff. Osman received his Master of Science in civil engineering from Bradley University and his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Southern University.
Osman is an African-American and that agency has been very white throughout the decades.
- Anon 88 - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
Good. Omer has a fantastic story, has a ton of knowledge and is a great leader. It looks like Pritzker is actually trying to appoint the best person for the job.
- Dudley Magoo - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:35 pm:
Rock solid choice. One of the nicest, approachable people in government aside from his vast expertise.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
Thanks, JB! Some feared the position would be a patronage chief. With Omer, IDOT has an up-through-the-ranks Secretary, a feel-good success story, and a more than capable leader.
- Huh? - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:50 pm:
Good. A promotion from within the department means the Secretary doesn’t have to learn the IDOT culture, and he knows what they do.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:52 pm:
=he knows what they do=
I’m glad somebody does.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:55 pm:
Do you thinks he can get rid of all the hacks that Quinn & Rod put over there?????
- IDOT Employee - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:58 pm:
Great choice! Omer is well liked and respected.
- IDOT Employee 621 - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:05 pm:
Hey Rich, is he black? I could not tell from your post. Asking for a friend…
- Wylie Coyote - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:05 pm:
A great selection of a professional within the Department. Years of real experience dealing with previous administrations and legislators. The kind of guy that’s needed to guide a major infrastructure program.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:08 pm:
What?
Anonymous - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 3:55 pm:
- Why - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:10 pm:
Rich are comments closed on the ratings agencies post?
- Teve Demotte - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:24 pm:
The truth is, Omar was not the first choice. JB’s team identified and offered the job to a person from Louisiana and thankfully that person declined the job.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:25 pm:
==Hey Rich, is he black?===
He is a person of color, born on the African continent.
- Fax Machine - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:35 pm:
Osman is a pro and he knows how to put out fires if he needs to. He knows how to handle human issues and technical issues. Fantastic pick.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 4:38 pm:
So far so good on the picks. I’ve heard some names floated that would be utter disasters, but they’ve managed to avoid them. Keep doing the homework.
- former IDOT - Monday, Feb 25, 19 @ 9:09 am:
This is a good pick. I worked with Mr. Osman in a former life and really thought highly of him.