Youngkin names director of rail, public transit agency

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has appointed Jennifer DeBruhl to lead the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation permanently. She has been leading the agency on an interim basis since March.

DeBruhl, who succeeds former DRPT director Jennifer Mitchell, is on the Commonwealth Transportation Board, serves as chair of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Board and sits on several other transportation boards around Virginia. She joined DRPT in 2016 as chief of public transportation and before that spent more than 20 years at the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

“I’m honored to be the next director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation as the agency marks its 30th anniversary,” DeBruhl said. “While the transit and rail industry has been challenged by COVID-19, Virginia has an opportunity to think about the best ways to serve residents moving forward, and I’m eager to work with our partners to find ways to improve. We’ll be focusing on metrics, evaluation, innovation and accountability to provide useful services to the commonwealth.”

DeBruhl went to Virginia Commonwealth University and there she earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies, a master’s in urban and regional planning, and a certificate in public management.