Who's New
Sergio Aceves, chief engineer and deputy director for Project Delivery
Sergio Aceves has been appointed chief engineer and deputy director for Project Delivery.
Throughout his 28-year career with Caltrans, Sergio has held numerous leadership positions, including 20 years in District 3, followed by assignments as state pavement engineer, division chief of Maintenance, and acting deputy director for Maintenance, Operations, Safety, and Equipment. Most recently, he served as District 3/North Region director.
As chief engineer, Sergio will provide leadership and policy direction while working closely with the capital team to ensure statewide project delivery commitments are met. Safety remains his top priority, both for the traveling public and Caltrans employees working in the field.
He also places a strong emphasis on collaboration and working with internal and external partners to improve lives and communities through transportation. Outside of work, Sergio enjoys hiking, jogging, and spending time outdoors. He also enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife, Patricia; daughter, Nataly; and sons, Gabriel and Adrian.
Keyona Brooks, deputy district director of District 6 Administration
Keyona Brooks has been appointed deputy district director of Administration for Caltrans District 6. She brings more than 11 years of state service, including seven years with Caltrans, and a belief that the strength of an organization begins with its people.
Since stepping into the acting role in June, Keyona has worked with the Administration and External Affairs teams to strengthen emergency readiness, support new hiring practices, and bring administrative services closer to the employees who rely on them. She is grateful for the team's work and for the partnerships they have built with divisions across District 6 and colleagues throughout the department.
Keyona previously led administrative and resource management work in District 6 and at Caltrans Headquarters. In her headquarters role, she oversaw state and federal resources for the Division of Planning and Modal Programs across all 12 districts. Those experiences taught her to listen for understanding, build strong partnerships, develop teams, and create practical systems that help people to do their best work.
As deputy, Keyona looks forward to working with her team and partners across the district and department to meet the needs ahead. She is especially committed to mentorship and helping employees find opportunities to grow in their careers.
Born and raised in the Central Valley, Keyona is proud to call the community she serves home. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in public administration. Outside of work, she enjoys attending church, helping others and spending time with her son and family.
Rachel Carpenter, deputy division chief for DRISI
Rachel Carpenter is the permanent deputy division chief for Research and Innovation in the Division of Research, Innovation and System Information (DRISI), building on her acting assignment since May 2026.
During her acting assignment, she strengthened partnerships with districts and university partners; improved internal coordination and communication; and helped shape a more coordinated approach to research prioritization and innovation delivery.
Rachel previously served as Caltrans’ chief safety officer, establishing the Division of Safety Programs and advancing the Safe System approach, and as acting deputy secretary for safety and enforcement at the California State Transportation Agency.
Her background also includes building Caltrans’ pedestrian and bicyclist safety program and delivering complete streets projects at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
She is a licensed professional engineer with a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Davis and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Outside work, Rachel enjoys biking with her husband, baking and learning to make stained glass windows.
Aung Maung, deputy director for MOSE
Aung Maung has been selected as Caltrans deputy director for the Maintenance, Operations, Safety and Equipment Program (MOSE).
In his new role, Aung will provide statewide leadership and policy direction to advance Caltrans priorities. He is committed to fostering collaboration and strengthening partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to advance Caltrans' mission and achieve meaningful results for California.
Aung previously served as the acting MOSE deputy director. Previously, he served as the Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN) joint build permit liaison, providing statewide support and guiding the issuance of MMBN joint-build permits. Before that, he served as the deputy district director for Traffic Operations in District 4, overseeing the operation and safety of the San Francisco Bay Area State Highway System.
Aung began his Caltrans career in 2005 as a transportation engineer in District 3 North Region.
With more than 21 years of experience across Design, Construction, Project Management, Maintenance, Operations and Traffic Safety, Aung brings a depth of leadership, technical expertise and strategic insight that will serve the department and the State well.
Aung holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Florida Atlantic University and is a licensed professional civil engineer.
Jimmy O’Dea, deputy director for Sustainability
Jimmy O’Dea has been appointed by the governor as the deputy director for Sustainability at Caltrans.
Jimmy recently 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.
In his new role, Jimmy will lead 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.