In a special meeting, the Nevada Department of Transportation Board on Thursday appointed Kristina Swallow to head the department.
She replaces Rudy Malfabon, who leaves the department after 31 years.
Swallow has nearly 25 years experience in civil engineering including most recently as a program engineer in the Las Vegas Department of Public Works.
She has worked in areas including flood control, traffic impact analysis, land development and transportation policy.
She holds a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UNLV.