U.S. Senate Confirms Dr. Ashok G. Kaveeshwar as Administrator of DOT’s Newly Created Research and Innovative Technology Administration

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Friday, July 1, 2005 - The U.S. Senate voted unanimously last night to approve Dr. Ashok G. Kaveeshwar as the first administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), a newly created agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Dr. Kaveeshwar was nominated to the position on May 24, 2005 by President George W. Bush.

RITA was created under the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act to more effectively coordinate and manage the Department’s research portfolio and to expedite the implementation of cross-modal, innovative technologies.

“The goal in creating RITA is to have a focused research agency, which is part Silicon Valley entrepreneurial company and part university research lab.  By forming innovative partnerships with transportation-related industries, government agencies and other public and private stakeholders, RITA will be more effective in coordinating research to more efficiently address the transportation needs of the 21^st century” said Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.  “Dr. Kaveeshwar’s diverse experience, from managing successful high-technology companies to performing cutting-edge scientific research, makes him uniquely suited to carry out this vision.”

Dr. Kaveeshwar has 35 years of experience in high-technology companies, providing research and technology development to a wide range of federal agencies.  He most recently served as president of Orange Technologies, Inc., a small business that provides information technology to government and commercial customers.  From 1998 to 2002, Dr. Kaveeshwar served as Senior Vice President of Raytheon Technical Services Company, where he was responsible for leading the Scientific and Technical Services Division with more than 4,000 employees worldwide. 

Previously, Dr. Kaveeshwar served as President and CEO of Hughes STX Corporation, a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation, where he led the successful integration of an independent company into a large aerospace and defense corporation.

“Dr. Kaveeshwar will help RITA live up to its mission of identifying and facilitating solutions to the challenges and opportunities facing America’s transportation system,” Mineta said.

Dr. Kaveeshwar moved to the United States from his hometown of Indore, India in 1961.  He received his bachelor's degree from Holkar College in Indore, and his Ph.D. in physics from the University at Buffalo, NY.  Dr. Kaveeshwar lives in Bethesda, MD with his wife, Tuti, and their son, Jaya.