ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors at its first meeting of the new year today (Monday, Jan. 13) unanimously selected Doug Chaffee to serve as the Chair of the Board.
Chaffee, who is also the Fourth District Supervisor for Orange County, replaces outgoing Chair Tam T. Nguyen, who remains on the Board as one of two public members.
The Fourth District includes portions of the cities of Fullerton, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Stanton and Placentia. Chaffee previously served on the Fullerton City Council.
“I am honored that my colleagues have entrusted me to lead the OCTA Board of Directors and I look forward to working together to continue providing an efficient, balanced and sustainable transportation network that serves the needs of everyone who lives, works and visits Orange County,” said OCTA Chair Chaffee.
As a member of the OCTA Board of Directors since 2019, Chaffee has played a strong role in advancing key transportation initiatives for Orange County. Throughout his career, he has worked to improve public infrastructure and advocate for projects that enhance the quality of life for Orange County residents.
As chair of the OCTA Board, Chaffee will guide efforts to expand transportation choices, ease traffic congestion, and keep Orange County moving smoothly.
Chaffee’s selection comes at a pivotal time for OCTA, as the agency works on a range of projects designed to address the growing and diverse transportation demands of one of the nation’s most populous counties.
Chaffee first held public office in 2012 when he was elected to the Fullerton City Council, where he served as Mayor in 2018. Prior to joining the Council, he served as Vice Chair of the Fullerton Planning Commission and is past president of both the Fullerton United Way and Sunrise Rotary Club.
Chaffee served on the board of the North Orange County YMCA and the Advisory Board of Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service. He is a member of Friends of Jazz and the Sierra Club and was a past recipient of the Mr. YMCA award.
In addition to his public service, Chaffee is a business attorney, practicing law for more than 40 years.
Chaffee is a graduate of Fullerton Union High School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Redlands and a law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law. He and his wife, Paulette, have two adult sons, both raised in Fullerton.
Chaffee is also serving as chair of the Metrolink Board of Directors this year.
The OCTA Board also named Jamey M. Federico to serve as vice chair. Federico is the Mayor of Dana Point and has served on the OCTA Board of Directors since 2023.
Federico was sworn in to begin a new four-year term on the OCTA Board, along with directors Mike Carroll, an Irvine City Councilman; Jon Dumitru, an Orange City Councilman; Patrick Harper, a Fountain Valley City Councilman; Fred Jung, Fullerton Mayor; Janet Nguyen, Orange County’s First District Supervisor; and Donald P. Wagner, Orange County’s Third District Supervisor.
The OCTA board is comprised of 18 members, including the five county supervisors, two members from city councils in each of the five supervisorial districts, two public members and the Caltrans District Director serves in a non-voting ex-officio capacity.
About OCTA:
The Orange County Transportation Authority is the county transportation planning commission, responsible for funding and implementing transit and capital projects for a balanced and sustainable transportation system that reflects the diverse travel needs of the county’s 34 cities and 3.2 million residents. With the mission of keeping Orange County moving, this includes freeways and express lanes, bus and rail transit, rideshare, commuter rail and active transportation. To sign up for more OCTA news, visit octa.net/GetConnected.
