Deanna Oware Joins Virginia DRPT
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Deanna Oware, Chief Financial Officer, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has appointed Deanna Oware as Chief Financial Officer.
Oware on June 10 began her new position overseeing DRPT’s $1 billion budget comprising state, federal and local resources that go toward improving rail and public transportation capacity and service across the commonwealth. As CFO, she leads budget, financial programming, financial reporting, fiscal operations and audit.
Oware comes to DRPT with more than 20 years of progressively responsible experience with the state of Indiana. Most recently, she was Chief Financial Officer for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, a position she held for five years. She also served as Deputy Budget Director and Budget Analyst for the Indiana State Budget Agency; as Chief Budget Officer and Director of Grants for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources; and as Community Development Director for what is now the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Oware holds a bachelor’s degree in bio-environmental science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Public Administration focused in public finance and urban management from Indiana University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Deanna Oware to DRPT as its next Chief Financial Officer,” said Jennifer DeBruhl, who became DRPT Director in July 2022. “Deanna has a proven track record of sound judgment and delivering value. She will continue our work of having solid financial services at DRPT.”
In related developments, DRPT in March received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration for its 2022 Statewide Rail Plan and issued a $450,000 Rail Industrial Access Program grant to Ashton Creek Industrial Park LLC in Chesterfield County, Va. Also, Zach Trogdon joined DRPT in October 2022 as Chief of Public Transportation.
