Shailen Bhatt is to leave the top job at the US Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) after less than two years in post.
The surprise move comes a month after the US roadmap for Vehicle to Everything tech roll-out was released.
Bhatt has had a distinguished career in the transport sector, working at the Kentucky, Delaware, and Colorado Departments of Transportation and as CEO of ITS America.
He left infrastructure consulting group Aecom when asked by US president Joe Biden to become administrator at FHWA in January 2023 - and it is thought that Bhatt will return to the private sector.
Kristin White, deputy administrator at FHWA and another ITS America alumnus, will lead the agency in an acting capacity when Bhatt leaves.
In a statement on LinkedIn, Bhatt said: "It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve as the 21st administrator of the FHWA."
He added: "We always say that safety is our number one priority. I will continue to work hard for our shared goal of zero deaths on our roadways. I am confident that we can get there."
"Whether it is building new projects, protecting vulnerable road users and our environment, or deploying technology to create the transportation system of the 21st century, the legacy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be a better America."
He thanked FHWA's partners at the US Department of Transportation, adding: "To serve during this time, with a president and [transportation] secretary who have been such impactful leaders, is an immense privilege. I look forward to seeing the multitude of projects that will transform our country for decades to come."
Various contemporaries paid tribute to Bhatt's time at FHWA.
His successor as CEO of ITS America, Laura Chace, called him "an incredible champion for advancing projects that improve lives and improve safety".
Pat Jones, outgoing CEO of IBTTA, praised Bhatt's "thoughtful and human leadership of FHWA".
