North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Secretary Joey Hopkins will retire on Oct. 1, after serving two years in the position and over 30 years in various capacities — including deputy chief engineer, division engineer, deputy division engineer, division maintenance engineer, and division operations engineer, all in Division 5.
“Secretary Hopkins has served at the Department of Transportation for more than 30 years and was planning for his retirement until Hurricane Helene struck our state,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a press release. “I asked him to delay his retirement to help steer us through the early phases of recovery and rebuilding. I am so grateful that he did, and we have reopened 97% of our state-maintained roads. He is a true public servant, beloved across the state and across the aisle, and I wish him a joyful retirement with his family.”
The governor has appointed Navy veteran and current NCDOT deputy secretary and general counsel Daniel Johnson as secretary.
“We have much work ahead to strengthen our infrastructure in western North Carolina, as well as to lead our entire state into the future of transportation,” Stein, a Democrat, said. “With his record of public service, leadership, and expertise in transportation, Daniel Johnson is the right person for the job. I welcome him to the role and look forward to working together to build a safer, stronger, and better-connected North Carolina.”
Hopkins became the secretary of NCDOT in October 2023, after the retirement of former secretary Eric Boyette. Before being named secretary, Hopkins served as NCDOT’s chief operating officer. Stein said his work to develop North Carolina’s Strategic Prioritization Process helped NCDOT use existing funding more efficiently and effectively to enhance the state’s infrastructure while supporting economic growth, job creation, and improved quality of life.
As mentioned, Hopkins has overseen the reconstruction and repair of roads and bridges after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last September.
He testified at a February House Oversight Committee hearing about Helene recovery. He said, “It’s something of a scale that we have never seen before, and hopefully, we’ll never see again.”
He was confirmed to the position in May 2024 by the General Assembly.
“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. “Daniel Johnson has been a valuable advisor to me, and I am proud to pass the torch to him.”
Johnson has served as NCDOT’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 US Navy. Johnson is a Navy and Marine Corps Medal recipient — the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism. He is a native of Hickory and earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University of North Carolina.
“Secretary Hopkins leaves a legacy of leadership that I can only hope to continue,” Johnson said. “We must continue the task of building a transportation system that meets the needs of our growing state, and I am eager to get to work.”