Carroll University announces Commencement keynote speaker

Dorval R. Carter Jr., a 1979 Carroll graduate and chief counsel of the Federal Transit Administration, will give the keynote address at the May 12, 2013, Commencement ceremony.

Carter advises the FTA on a broad range of policy and legal issues concerning the federal transit program, which manages more than $10 billion in federal funds. As chief legal officer, he advises the administration on appropriations, emergency operations, procurement, grants, ethics, personal and real property, labor protection, innovative finance, personnel, legislation, regulations and litigation. He also coordinates with and provides support to the Department of Transportation’s Office of the Secretary General Counsel on legal matters regarding the federal transit program.

Before rejoining FTA in 2009, Carter spent nine years as the executive vice president and chief administrative officer of the Chicago Transit Authority, including a stint as acting president. He was responsible for directing and coordinating the principal planning and operating functions, which included the departments of operational planning, finance, human resources, purchasing/warehousing, employee relations, legislative affairs, affirmative action, community relations, safety and security, technology and program management, and media relations.

From 1998 to 2000, Carter was FTA’s assistant chief counsel for legislation and regulations. In addition to coordinating with the presidential political leadership and congressional staff on policy initiatives, he also prepared testimony and documentation for congressional hearings and implementation of the legislative agenda for the federal transit program. From 1991 to 1998, he was FTA’s counsel in Region 5, responsible for all contractual, labor, environmental and litigation matters. He also provided legal policy guidance to the region’s executive staff, which administered $650 million annually in federal grants for 160 grantees in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Carter began his legal career with the Chicago Transit Authority in 1984, starting as a staff attorney and eventually as deputy general attorney for corporate law, supervising the workers compensation, real estate and corporate law departments. He also was responsible for directing all litigation, advice and counsel matters for the authority. For one year he was acting general attorney, assuming total responsibility for all legal matters.

A member of the Transportation Research Board’s National Research Council, Carter is chairman of the Committee on Transit and Intermodal Transportation Law. He is a senior fellow on the Council for Excellence in Government Fellow Program and is vice chairman of the board of directors for Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago. He joined the Carroll University board of trustees in September 2012.

Carter earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and holds a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law. He is a member of both the Illinois and Federal Bars. He is married to Tracey Everett Carter; the couple lives in Arlington, Va., and has two children.