ACES Mobility Coalition names Joshua Schank as executive director

The ACES Mobility Coalition, a Washington DC-based organisation focused on advancing shared autonomous mobility across the United States, has appointed Joshua Schank as its new executive director.

Schank, who holds a PhD in urban planning from Columbia University, was selected unanimously by the coalition’s board of directors following a national search. He brings nearly three decades of experience spanning public transportation, policy and technology.

“Joshua brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, deep policy expertise, and hands-on experience delivering transportation initiatives,” says Greer Johnson Gillis, board president of the ACES Mobility Coalition and senior vice president and chief infrastructure and development officer at Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA).

“The Board selected him because we are confident in his ability to build consensus, advance policy, and help communities move pilots to permanent, scalable shared autonomous mobility solutions.”

Former LA Metro innovation chief

Schank currently serves as a partner at InfraStrategies, where he leads a practice focused on innovation, strategic planning and technology. He is also a senior fellow at the Institute for Transportation Studies at UCLA and a research associate at the Mineta Transportation Institute. He will retain all three positions alongside his new role.

Previously, Schank served as the first chief innovation officer at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), where he founded the Office of Extraordinary Innovation. During his time there, he led initiatives including the Vision 2028 Strategic Plan, Metro Micro on-demand service, the agency’s traffic reduction study, and first- and last-mile connectivity programmes.

“ACES represents the future of transportation and a tremendous potential opportunity for public transit riders and agencies,” says Schank. “I’m honored by the Board’s confidence and excited to work with the Coalition’s members to help make shared autonomous mobility a permanent and integrated part of public transportation solutions that improve access, safety, sustainability, and quality of life.”

Policy background

Earlier in his career, Schank was president and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation, a DC-based think tank, and led transportation research at the Bipartisan Policy Center. He also served as transportation policy advisor to Senator Hillary Clinton during the authorisation of Safetea-LU, the federal surface transportation funding legislation.

As executive director, Schank will oversee strategy, policy engagement and member collaboration, with a focus on scaling shared autonomous mobility as a core element of public transportation systems. His appointment comes as US cities and regions look to transition autonomous vehicle pilots into permanent services addressing first- and last-mile challenges.

Schank succeeds Scott Belcher, president and CEO of SFB Consulting, who co-founded the coalition. Johnson Gillis praised Belcher’s contribution, saying: “Scott’s efforts laid a strong foundation for the Coalition’s long-term impact and ensured that our organization will stand as a lasting legacy of his commitment to advancing innovative transportation solutions.”