NYCT names O'Grady head of capital program management

John O'Grady
Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has appointed John O'Grady to the permanent position of senior vice president of capital program management.

He's held the position on an interim basis since 2015 in conjunction with his role overseeing NYCT's ongoing recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy, agency officials said in a press release.

O'Grady has been employed with NYCT for more than 27 years, most recently as vice president of capital program management. In 2013, he took on additional responsibilities as program executive of infrastructure and facilities recovery and resilience, a position created after Hurricane Sandy flooded parts of the system in October 2012.

In that role, he oversaw NYCT's storm recovery and resiliency efforts, including the complete overhaul of the severely damaged Montague R line tubes, which reopened for service after 13 months of around-the-clock work, agency officials said.

In his dual roles at capital program management and in the Sandy recovery program, O'Grady has managed more than $7 billion in various recovery and resiliency efforts and capital improvements to existing NYCT assets.

O'Grady succeeds Fred Smith, who retired in 2015.

"John has demonstrated the ability to embrace innovation and find new ways to improve how we make investments throughout the system," said NYCT President Veronique Hakim.