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On Thursday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) board installed new officers and members, and confirmed Richard Sarles as general manager and chief executive officer.

Board member Catherine Hudgins was elected chairwoman to succeed Peter Benjamin, whose one-year term as chair ended Thursday. The board also elected Tom Downs first vice chair and Mortimer Downey, second vice chair.

Four new members have joined the board: Downs, Tommy Wells, Mary Hynes and Kathy Porter.

"Going forward, the board's governance will include setting performance measurements and making them transparent in a way that ensures public accountability and builds confidence and trust in Metro," Hudgins said in a prepared statement.

The board also voted unanimously to confirm Sarles, who has been serving as interim general manager for the past 10 months.

Prior to joining WMATA, Sarles was executive director of New Jersey Transit, and has more than 40 years of transportation experience with WMATA, New Jersey Transit, Amtrak and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.