NITA Names Jamie Rhee as First Interim Executive Director

The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), formerly the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), has named Jamie Rhee as its first interim executive director. APTA Chair Leanne Redden announced her retirement from the role of RTA executive director as RTA transitions into NITA.

Rhee brings more than 30 years of progressive leadership in Chicago government to the role. She most recently served as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation from 2018 to 2025, overseeing daily operations and development at O’Hare and Midway International Airports and completing the $6.6 billion O’Hare Modernization Program while advancing the $8.5 billion O’Hare 21 terminal expansion. Previously, Rhee served as the City of Chicago’s Chief Procurement Officer and held senior roles including Deputy Chief of Staff in the Mayor’s Office and General Counsel for the O’Hare Modernization Program.

In 2018, Rhee was the recipient of the Motorola Solutions Foundation Excellence in Public Service Award, presented by the Civic Federation.

Redden joined the agency in 2005 and served as executive director since 2014. Under her leadership, RTA maintained an AA+ credit rating, reflecting sustained fiscal discipline and transparency. She guided development of two regional strategic plans, Invest in Transit and Transit is the Answer, which set the region’s transit funding and policy priorities and laid the policy groundwork later carried into the NITA Act.

Redden was also an innovator in regional mobility. She introduced Bus on Shoulder to Chicago, developing the enabling legislation and working with Illinois DOT and Pace to bring it to the region.