JENNIFER DeBRUHL

In 2021, Jennifer DeBruhl’s husband, Mark, passed away after a 3-month battle with cancer. Before this tragedy, DeBruhl was preparing to retire from her public service career and transition into the private sector.

However, life had other plans for DeBruhl’s career path, too. The state’s transportation secretary asked her to become interim director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), leveraging her over 30 years of experience in advancing Virginia’s multimodal transportation system. Though she initially intended it to be a temporary role, DeBruhl quickly realized she could thrive professionally while also raising her 13-year-old son. The governor appointed DeBruhl as DRPT’s permanent director in June 2022.

DeBruhl credits her success to hard work, guidance from women mentors and her ability to develop a strong voice and thick skin in a male-dominated industry. A breaker of glass ceilings, she was the first woman to hold leadership positions in three of her past roles. During her time at DRPT, she has launched programs that expanded bus and rail services throughout the state and increased economic opportunities.

DeBruhl hopes her legacy will be her commitment to mentorship and creating opportunities for women.

“I think women bring a unique and broad perspective to transportation decision-making,” she says. “I’m a firm believer that none of this is about me — I just want DRPT to be known as the best-in-class transportation agency that will last long after I am gone.”

Read more about the 2023 class of Virginia Business Women in Leadership Award winners.