Joan DeBoer
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Joan DeBoer

Chiefs of Staff SAGE Co-Chair

Joan DeBoer is a former public servant with more than 23 years of management, budget and legislative policy experience. Currently, she serves as a Director with Building America’s Future Education Fund, a bipartisan coalition of elected officials dedicated to bringing about a new era of U.S. investment in infrastructure that enhances our nation’s prosperity and quality of life. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Previously, Joan served as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Transportation from January 2009 to July 2013. She helped lead an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime, and surface transportation missions. As Chief of Staff, Joan provided strategic advice and daily counsel to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on all aspects of transportation policy and helped manage the daily global operations of the Department of Transportation (DOT). 

 Joan was the Secretary’s primary liaison with the White House and other federal agencies. In that capacity, she played a senior DOT role in presidential initiatives such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (TIGER grants, Cash for Clunkers program), high-speed rail and historic CAFE standards. Joan also served on the Presidential Task Force of the Auto Industry. 

Previously, Joan served over 18 years on Capitol Hill in various capacities. She was Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Ray LaHood, and also served as an Appropriations Associate to the House Appropriations Committee. Early in Joan’s career she served as a Legislative Assistant to House Republican Leader Robert Michel.  

Joan received her B.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1990.  

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