James M. Bass serves as interim executive director and chief financial officer of the Texas Department of Transportation.

Under the direction of the Texas Transportation Commission, he manages, directs and implements TxDOT policies, programs and operating strategies. He also represents TxDOT before the Texas Legislature and other entities.

Bass began his TxDOT career in 1985 working summers in the Fort Worth District. He worked part-time through college and began full-time as an accounting clerk in the Finance Division's Revenue Accounting Section.

Since then, Bass has worked extensively on preparation of TxDOT's Legislative Appropriations Requests, Operating Budgets and Cash Forecasting System. He also works on the agency's public-private partnerships and corresponds with the Legislative Budget Board, State Auditor's Office and the Office of the Texas Comptroller.

Bass was selected as finance division director in November 1999, and became chief financial officer in 2005. He and his wife, Patty, have a son and a daughter.

He became interim executive director on Jan. 17, 2014.

Contact Bass by phone at (512) 305-9501 or by email.