Governor Larry Hogan Announces New Leaders at MDTA and MVA

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced the appointments of new leaders at the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The MDTA board this morning voted to appoint Milton Chaffee as the new MDTA executive director. Mr. Chaffee currently serves as administrator at MVA where he has provided leadership for 13 years in top management positions. Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn appointed Christine Nizer, who currently serves as the chief deputy administrator, as the new MVA administrator.
"Milton Chaffee has consistently demonstrated a commitment to highway safety and a readiness to embrace new technology. He has the public- and private-sector business experience, leadership skills, and know-how to take MDTA to the next level," Governor Hogan said. "Christine Nizer will ensure the leadership change at MVA is seamless, through her proven leadership in motor vehicle issues at both the state and national level."
In addition to his role as administrator, Mr. Chaffee has served at MVA in several capacities since 2002, including: the governor’s highway safety representative, chief deputy administrator, deputy administrator of operations, and director of employee and administrative services. In these roles, he has been responsible for all branch operations, the customer call center, vehicle emissions inspections centers, insurance compliance, school bus safety, and driver and vehicle policies, program, and safety. Mr. Chaffee understands the importance of meeting the needs of the business community, having spent more than 25 years in private business. His most recent position in the private sector was senior director of operations for YUM Brands Restaurant Company Mid-Atlantic Region. Mr. Chaffee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in consumer science and home economics from Miami University in Ohio.
Joining the MVA in 2006 as associate administrator for driver and vehicle policies & programs, Ms. Nizer quickly moved up in the department. She was promoted to deputy administrator for central operations and safety programs in 2010 and to chief deputy administrator in March 2014. Just this summer, she was elected to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) Region 1 board. Ms. Nizer also serves as chair of the board of directors for the Driver’s License / Identification Verification Systems. Her other leadership positions include chair of the National Driver Registry Workgroup and chair of AAMVA’s Driver Committee. She is a 2011 graduate of the Leadership Maryland Program and was named the WTS Woman of the Year for 2014. In addition to her nine years at the MVA, Ms. Nizer has held management positions at the Maryland Public Service Commission, the Maryland General Assembly, and the Office of Homeland Security. Ms. Nizer earned a Master of Science degree in public policy from the Eagleton Institute of Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Goucher College.