North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins plans to retire next month after more than 30 years in the department, Gov. Josh Stein said Friday.
Daniel Johnson, the department’s deputy secretary and general counsel, will be elevated to the top role.
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Hopkins had been planning to retire when Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, but Stein asked him to delay retirement to help the state with the early phases of recovery, the governor said. “I am so grateful that he did, Stein said, “and we have reopened 97% of our state-maintained roads. He is a true public servant.”
Hopkins became transportation secretary in 2023 after serving as the department’s chief operating officer. Stein credited him for helping enhance the state’s infrastructure while supporting economic growth.
“It has been an honor to serve as secretary of transportation, and I am grateful to all the North Carolinians who put their trust in our team,” Hopkins said in a statement.
Hopkins described Johnson as a valuable advisor. Johnson has served as the department’s deputy secretary and general counsel since 2019. Before joining NCDOT, Johnson worked in private practice, was an assistant district attorney in Wake County and served as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. The Hickory native earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University of North Carolina.
“With his record of public service, leadership, and expertise in transportation, Daniel Johnson is the right person for the job,” Stein said. “I welcome him to the role and look forward to working together to build a safer, stronger, and better-connected North Carolina.”