Gary Gallegos is the executive director of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). SANDAG is the research, planning, and transportation agency for the region. Agency policymakers are elected officials from each of the area’s 18 cities and the county. SANDAG is responsible for numerous regional initiatives including population growth, transportation, transit engineering and construction, environmental management, economic development, municipal finance, binational and interregional coordination, and public safety.

Under his direction, the agency is creating the first Regional Transportation Plan under new California legislative mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, developing a third international border crossing at the U.S.-Mexico border, and implementing more than $1 billion in transportation infrastructure projects in the San Diego region.

Prior to joining SANDAG in 2001, Mr. Gallegos held the position of district director for Caltrans District 11, covering San Diego and Imperial Counties.