AASHTO Journal - Kris Strickler to Step Down as Oregon DOT Director

Effective January 2, 2026, Kris Strickler (above) will step down from his position as director of the Oregon Department of Transportation.

[Above photo by Oregon DOT]

Strickler – the second longest serving director in agency history – will be replaced by Lisa Sumption, director of Oregon Parks and Recreation (OPRD), who will serve as interim director as Governor Tina Kotek (D) and the Oregon Transportation Commission search for a permanent replacement.

“A dedicated leader who has not shied away from embracing challenges, Kris is one of the longest tenured directors in the history of the agency,” said Gov. Kotek in a statement.

“I’m grateful for his years of service and his unrelenting focus on making sure Oregonians can keep moving, safely, sustainably, and without delay,” she added. “Likewise, I am grateful to Interim Director Lisa Sumption for stepping up to take the reins as we embark on a nationwide search.”

Strickler has led the 4,500-person agency since fall 2019. Before becoming Oregon DOT director, he served as the Southwest Region Administrator for the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Oregon Project Director for the Columbia River Crossing and most recently as Oregon DOT’s Highway Division Administrator. 

“The decision to leave Oregon DOT did not come easily to me [but] now is the time for new leadership to lead Oregon DOT’s next chapter,” Strickler said. “The employees of Oregon DOT are dedicated to improving the lives of Oregonians and, because of that commitment, I know Oregon DOT will continue to thrive.”

Sumption has been serving as OPRD’s director since 2014 and also holds the position of Oregon’s State Historic Preservation Officer. With a tenure of over 25 years in public service, she oversees the Oregon state park system comprising over 113,000 acres and 254 recreational, scenic, cultural, and historical sites with 53 overnight campgrounds.

Concurrently, Stefanie Coons – OPRD’s current deputy director of business administration – will serve as OPRD’s interim director during Sumption’s term at Oregon DOT. Sumption will subsequently return to OPRD at the conclusion of this interim assignment, the governor said.