Transportation 2024: SHEPPARD ‘SHEP’ MILLER III

A former defense contracting executive and Norfolk native, Miller was appointed secretary by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2022. He is responsible for Virginia’s rail, roads, transit and ports. As chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, Miller has a great deal of say on the state’s transportation funding of major road expansion and improvement projects, as well as state funding of the Washington Metro system. In 2024, the state, along with contributions from Maryland and Washington, D.C., came through with additional funding to assist Metro with its $750 million budget gap.

Among Miller’s biggest responsibilities are the Port of Virginia’s $1.4 billion project to expand overall capacity and cargo handling, and the $3.9 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion, as well as ongoing improvements on interstates 64, 81 and 95 to ease congestion.

An alumnus of Hampden-Sydney College and William & Mary, Miller retired in 2017 upon his sale of KITCO Fiber Optics, twice named by the Virginia Chamber as one of Virginia’s 50 fastest-growing companies.

Miller is a member of the boards of Maryland’s Washington College and the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. He also serves on TowneBank’s Norfolk board.