Lori Pepper was appointed the Deputy Secretary for Innovative Mobility Solutions by Governor Newsom in August 2019 at the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). In this position, she focuses on applying technology and best practices to the transportation
ecosystem to ease mobility for people, goods, and services throughout the state. She works with partners at CalSTA-led departments and across state entities on policy related to connected and automated vehicles, ZEV infrastructure, broadband deployment, advanced air mobility, moving research to technology deployment, among other issues.

Prior to her appointment, Lori worked in Washington, DC as the Senior Federal Policy Specialist for Honda North America, Inc. where her portfolio focused on technology and innovation. This included connected and automated vehicles, robotics and artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and spectrum issues. Lori also served on Capitol Hill for 10 years in various capacities. She began her federal career
as a Legislative Assistant in the office of former Rep. Albert Wynn (MD) and then became Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for former Rep. Baron Hill (IN) where she successfully led the office’s efforts to raise federal fuel efficiency standards included in the Energy Independence & Security Act.

Lori also served on the Science and Technology Committee as Director of Policy & Outreach under former Chairman Bart Gordon (TN) where she helped shepherd the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act. For her final two years on Capitol Hill, Lori served as a Policy Advisor and Deputy Floor Director for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA) where she was the Speaker’s advisor on issues related to small business, agriculture, and veterans, as well as her liaison to the moderate Blue Dog Coalition.

Lori started her career in her home state of Maryland as the Legislative Assistant for former State Delegate Paul Carlson.