Jimmy O'Dea

Deputy Director
Sustainability

Jimmy O’Dea is the Deputy Director for Sustainability at Caltrans. In this role, he leads Caltrans’ efforts to integrate sustainability into the Department's policies, programs, investments, and operations, helping align California's transportation system with the state's climate, economic, and mobility goals. The role coordinates with internal and external partners to advance Caltrans' priorities and support implementation of the Department's strategic objectives.

Most recently, he served as Assistant Deputy Director for Transportation Electrification, where he led the Department’s efforts to advance zero-emission vehicles, including the administration of more than $500 million in new federal funding for electric vehicle charging projects.

Prior to joining Caltrans, Jimmy held roles at CALSTART and the Union of Concerned Scientists, where he helped develop and advance first-of-their-kind policies supporting the deployment of electric trucks and buses at the local, state, and federal levels.

Jimmy also served as a Science and Engineering Congressional Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, contributing to federal energy and climate policy.

He began his career in research, earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and conducting postdoctoral research at Cornell University, where he studied materials to improve the performance and reduce the cost of hydrogen fuel cells.

Jimmy lives in San Mateo with his wife and three children. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring California by train, bike, and on foot with his family.