Jennifer DeBruhl, AICP, PMP, was appointed the Acting Director for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in March 2022 by Governor Youngkin. She also serves as a member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, chair of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority board, and as a board member for several transit organizations around the Commonwealth.

Ms. DeBruhl joined DRPT as the Chief of Public Transportation in 2016 following over 20 years of distinguished public service to the transportation community, at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). At DRPT, Ms. DeBruhl played a significant role in the development and implementation of Virginia’s Making Efficient + Responsible Investments in Transit (MERIT) program increasing accountability in public transportation funding, launching the Virginia Breeze intercity bus service, and spearheading the new Transit Ridership Incentive Program to expand regional connectivity and reduce barriers to transit use.

Danny Plaugher serves as the executive director of Virginians for High Speed Rail (VHSR) and deputy director of the Virginia Transit Association (VTA). He joined VHSR in 2007 where he helped to create the Virginia Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund (IPROC) and make Virginia one of the first states with a dedicated funding source for passenger rail. He joined the Virginia Transit Association (VTA) in 2019 to help lead their policy and outreach efforts. In 2002, he was appointed by Governor Mark Warner to serve on the Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice and was reappointed in 2003, becoming one of the youngest appointees of Governor Warner’s administration.

Danny serves onthe Megaregion Institutional Council for RVA717 Connects; the board of RVA Rapid Transit; the Virginia Conservation Network’s Legislative and Land Use & Transportation committees; the Capital Region Rail Vision Advisory Committee for the Greater Washington Partnership; fellow and treasurer of the Virginia Rail Policy Institute;and is a proud member of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)Alumni Association. He has previously served on the Planning Committee for Senator Mark R. Warner’s 2013 Virginia Young Professional’s Summit; Governor Terry McAuliffe’s 2014 Transition Transportation Council; andVirginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine’s 2019 Transportation Sustainability Workgroup.