MoDOT Names Dave Nichols as New Director

As previously reported by Patch, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced a change in leadership with the sudden resignation of MoDOT Director Kevin Keith in March who was taking medical leave immediately.

At that time, it was announced that Chief Engineer Dave Nichols would serve as interim director.

This week, MoDOT announced Nichols, who has been with the department for more than 29 years, has been selected as the new director.

MoDOT released the following details of the change in the following news release.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has selected Dave Nichols to serve as the director of the Missouri Department of Transportation. Nichols has served as interim MoDOT director since March 21. He has been with the department for more than 29 years.

“Dave Nichols has the talent, skills, and experience needed to be a successful leader for MoDOT,” said Commission Chairman Joe Carmichael. “The commission has unanimously agreed that a prolonged search for a new director was unnecessary, as the right person for the job was already here.”

Nichols assumed the interim director position after the resignation of Kevin Keith, who left MoDOT on March 21 for a medical leave of absence. Nichols has held a variety of leadership roles in the department, including his work as chief engineer and as the department’s first director of program delivery. He has also served as district engineer for the department’s Northwest District headquartered in St. Joseph and worked in MoDOT’s Kansas City District.