On April 26, San Diego Association of Governments announced that after a nationwide search, the SANDAG Board of Directors appointed Mario Orso, the current chief deputy director of the California Department of Transportation District 11 as the new SANDAG CEO.
Orso will be responsible for leading more than 400 SANDAG employees, oversee a $1.2 billion annual budget, and report directly to the Board of Directors, made up of elected mayors, councilmembers, and county supervisors appointed from each of the region’s 19 local governments. His three-year contract will begin on June 17.
“As a resident of this region, I am honored to have the opportunity to lead SANDAG. In partnership with the Board, we will be laser focused on our core mission and commitments to the people of the San Diego region,” said Orso in a press release. “With more than 200 projects underway, our partnerships are going to be more important than ever to make the most of our investments to improve mobility, equity, safety, and our economy.”
SANDAG and San Diego County Supervisor Chair Nora Vargas said the Board made a commitment to select a proven leader with decades of experience to prioritize the community’s needs.
“Mr. Orso is dedicated to the people of this region and has demonstrated his commitment by successfully building teams, delivering major infrastructure projects, and bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to the San Diego region. He embodies the qualities we were searching for in a leader and I am confident we have found a CEO who will be forward thinking, collaborative, and fiscally responsible,” she stated.
Orso has more than 32 years of experience at Caltrans, having worked his way through the ranks from a junior civil engineer to his current appointment after earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from San Diego State University. Orso holds a Professional Engineers Registration and has completed the Project Management Certificate Program that Caltrans and Sacramento State University offer. Along the way he made his mark in District 11, currently as Chief Deputy Director, and he previously served as Corridor Project Director for the South County and Trade Corridors, the district’s first Native American Liaison, and Intergovernmental Review Branch Chief and Project Manager. Additionally, in 2023, Orso was appointed Acting Caltrans District 12 Director in Orange County.
