RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) Executive Committee unanimously selected Aaron Hake as the next RCTC Executive Director at its November 8, 2023, meeting. The Executive Committee is responsible for the selection of RCTC’s executive director. When Hake assumes the Executive Director role on May 2, 2024, he will lead 81 staff members across nine departments, including management of the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (RCA), with an overall annual budget of approximately $1 billion.

“Throughout Aaron’s 17 years of service to RCTC, his leadership and effectiveness has resulted in major wins for our region, from funding for major infrastructure projects to passage or defeat of key legislation. Aaron’s credibility and deep knowledge of Riverside County and transportation policy in this era of change will be invaluable as we work to deliver the transportation infrastructure we know this county needs,” said RCTC Chair and Lake Elsinore City Council Member Robert “Bob” Magee. “The Executive Committee’s swift action demonstrates the high-level of confidence we have in Aaron to lead RCTC into the future.”

“I am humbled by the confidence placed in me by the RCTC Executive Committee,” said Deputy Executive Director Aaron Hake. “Having lived in Riverside County nearly my entire life and raising a family here, I know the value of a quality transportation system and maintaining open space to our residents. Every day, Riverside County residents and businesses depend on our unrelenting effort to deliver improved regional transportation. I am committed to serving our communities with integrity, finding solutions together, and advocating for projects that make life better in Riverside County.”

Hake began his career at RCTC in 2006 by successfully working on transportation policy and project funding advocacy, including for transportation improvements on State Route 91 and Interstate 15. In 2016, Hake was promoted to Director of External Affairs where he spearheaded the development of the Commission-adopted Traffic Relief Plan, a strategy to fund a backlog of transportation improvements and to plan for Riverside County’s future transportation and mobility needs. In 2021, Hake was promoted to Interim RCA Deputy Executive Director when RCTC became the managing agency of the RCA. In 2022, Hake became RCTC’s Deputy Executive Director, overseeing RCTC’s multi-modal, express lanes operations, finance, external affairs, administrative services departments, and the RCA.

“Successfully implementing one of the nation’s most ambitious habitat conservation plans in California’s fastest growing region is an unprecedented challenge, but Aaron’s leadership has done just that. Having worked with Aaron over the last few years to accelerate habitat conservation by implementing streamlined approaches, collaborating with stakeholders, and successfully securing more state and federal funding, I am confident he will elevate our work on behalf of the residents of Riverside County,” said RCA Chair and Lake Elsinore Mayor Natasha Johnson.

Hake has long been a civic leader in Riverside County, serving as the Chair of the Riverside County Planning Commission, Chair of the City of Corona Planning Commission, and Treasurer of the City of Corona. He has served as Board Chair of the Inland Southern California United Way and has served on numerous other local nonprofit boards of directors.

Hake was honored with the 2022 Women in Transportation-Inland Empire chapter Secretary Ray LaHood Award recognizing his career-long commitment to advancing women in the transportation profession.

Hake earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from American University in Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Hake is a resident of Norco, California.

Hake will replace Anne Mayer, who announced her retirement on October 16, 2023, after sixteen years as RCTC’s Executive Director. Mayer will continue to serve as Executive Director until May 1, 2024.