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Released: 2/21/2024 

James D. Schultz Elected as Chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority

New Chair plans to continue mission of providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services.


James D. Schultz, an attorney, policy advisor, and corporate executive, was elected today as chairman of the 16-member board overseeing operations of the bi-state Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO).

“As a Pennsylvanian who grew up in New Jersey, it is an honor to serve as the next Chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO,” said Chairman Schultz. “I am grateful to Governor Shapiro for the trust he has placed in me and my fellow commissioners with whom I look forward to carrying out our mission of providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services. I also wish to thank Mayor Parker for her service and for leaving the Authority in such a strong position.”

Chairman Schultz joined the DRPA Board of Commissioners in August 2023 under the appointment of Governor Josh Shapiro. During the agency’s February Board Meeting, Pennsylvania Commissioner Robert J. Ghormoz nominated Chairman Schultz for the chair position, with Pennsylvania Commissioner Gregory G. Schwab seconding the nomination.

As Chairman, Schultz will lead an agency with a $188.6M annual operating budget, a $794.2M five-year capital budget, and an 850-member workforce.

Schultz currently serves as Scientific Game’s Executive Vice President of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs. Before joining Scientific Games, Schultz served in various high-profile government roles, including General Counsel to the Governor of Pennsylvania, Senior Associate Counsel, and Special Assistant to the President of the United States in the Office of White House Counsel. He was a partner at both Cozen O’Connor and Holland & Knight law firms and has advised and served as an appointee for government officials on both sides of the aisle.

Schultz holds a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University and a Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School.

“I look forward to working closely with Chairman Schultz as we continue to strive for excellence and pursue our mission,” said DRPA Vice Chairman Jeffrey L. Nash. “His experience at the highest levels of the public sector and as an entrepreneurial business leader will greatly benefit our board and the community we serve.”

An eighth Pennsylvania board member, Vaughn Ross, founder of Rvesta Consulting, was also sworn in at Wednesday’s meeting.

The Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey is a regional transportation agency tasked with overseeing the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Betsy Ross Bridges, as well as the PATCO transit line, on behalf of the community. It operates under the administration of a 16-member board of commissioners, with eight representatives from each state who serve voluntarily. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s elected auditor general and treasurer serve as ex-officio members, while others are appointed by the governors of their respective states.

“We are excited to have Commissioner Schultz taking on this important chair role at DRPA and PATCO,” said DRPA CEO John T. Hanson. “His extensive background, deep understanding of policy and advocacy, coupled with his ability to foster collaboration, make him well-suited to guiding the DRPA and PATCO toward continued success in creating value for the public we serve.”


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