Home > About DOT > Biographies of Key Officials > VADM Thomas Barrett, USCG (Ret.)

Last updated 9/26/2007

Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett, USCG (Ret.) was confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of Transportation on August 8, 2007. Earlier, he became the Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation on March 3, 2007. 

In his role as Deputy Secretary, Barrett is helping the President and Secretary Mary E. Peters ensure that the United States and its citizens have a safe, efficient, and reliable transportation system that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life for Americans today and into the future.

Deputy Secretary Barrett serves as the Department’s chief operating officer, responsible for the day-to-day management of DOT’s $61.1 billion budget, 10 modal administrations, and approximately 60,000 employees.  

Barrett was sworn in May 31, 2006, by then Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta as the first administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  The PHMSA Administrator is the agency's Chief Executive Officer and advises the Secretary on all matters falling within PHMSA's jurisdiction. The Administrator directs the agency's national program for protecting against risks to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce and the transportation of liquid, natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous liquids by pipeline.

Before becoming PHMSA Administrator, Barrett was the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Prior to that, he served 35 years in the United States Coast Guard and attained the position of Vice Commandant. In that capacity, he served as second in command, Agency Acquisition Executive, coordinated the Coast Guard Leadership Council, and co-chaired with the Vice Chief of Naval Operations the Navy-Coast Guard Board, an inter-service policy coordination body. He was instrumental in improving maritime security post 9/11, expanding Coast Guard support to the National Foreign Intelligence Community, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and smoothly transitioning the Coast Guard into the new Department of Homeland Security.

Barrett earned a B.S. in Biology from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, N.Y., and a Juris Doctor with honors from the George Washington University. He is a graduate of the Army War College and the National Defense University Capstone Course in National Security Strategy and Military Capabilities.