TriMet taps Desue as COO

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) has named Samuel Desue Jr. chief operating officer, effective March 18.

He will lead the agency's transportation, maintenance, information technology, and safety and security divisions.

Desue has more than 22 years of public and private transportation experience, including in Washington state. He most recently was deputy chief executive officer for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA).

He joined KCATA in 2013 as director of transportation and moved up through the ranks, later becoming COO, interim general manager and then deputy CEO.
 
"In his leadership roles at KCATA, Desue set priorities for the agency; developed a five-year strategic plan; improved on-time performance; promoted industry best practices and technologies to benefit the customer experience; implemented a safety/security task force; and forged strong partnerships with community and business groups, first responders and city leaders," TriMet officials said in a press release.

Desue previously held positions at Pierce Transit and Community Transit in Washington, where he directed transportation services. During his five years at Pierce Transit, he moved up from senior transportation manager to vice president of transportation services.

Desue also serves on the American Public Transportation Association's board and operators committee. A military veteran, he served the U.S. Army for nearly 11 years.

"Sam brings a reputation for performance-driven leadership with a commitment to safety, so he will be a great fit here," said TriMet General Manager Doug Kelsey.