Robert A. DeHaan became Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation in September 2006. In this capacity, he assists the Secretary in fulfilling the Department’s twin objectives of ensuring a safe transportation system and reducing congestion across all modes of that system. He also manages the Office of Transportation Policy and its team of transportation analysts.

Prior to assuming his present duties, DeHaan served as Special Counsel to the Deputy United States Trade Representative. At USTR, he focused particularly on U.S. trade relations with the nations of Asia and Africa and worked on the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. He began his service to the Bush Administration at DOT, as Counselor to the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs.

Before entering government service, DeHaan was associated with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Zuckert Scoutt & Rasenberger, where he practiced a mixture of transportation law, administrative law, and commercial litigation. He holds an A.B. in history from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, where he was Notes and Comments Editor of the Illinois Law Review. He is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C. and Illinois, and multiple federal courts.

A native of Illinois, DeHaan resides in Arlington, Virginia.