Brigham McCown

Brigham A. McCown (born July 3, 1966 in Ironton, Ohio) is a federal transportation safety and energy infrastructure policy expert. He currently serves as the managing director of United Transportation Advisors, a Southlake, Texas-based consulting firm that specializes in trucking and energy cases. From 2003-2007 Mr. McCown served in several leadership roles during both terms of President George W. Bush's presidency in Washington D.C. Until 2007, Mr. McCown served as a senior executive at the United States Department of Transportation. He was appointed to the position by Transportation Secretary, Norman Y. Mineta (D-CA), where he helped shape the nation’s laws, regulations and policies pertaining to transportation safety and security for the surface, maritime, pipeline, rail and aviation industries.

Most recently, Mr. McCown served as the first acting administrator (interim CEO) and first full-time deputy administrator (COO) of the newly formed Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). In this position, Mr. McCown was responsible for ensuring federal and state security and the safety and oversight of the transportation of energy products and other hazardous materials. During his tenure, Mr. McCown helped draft the PIPES Act of 2006. He has also served as the first general counsel of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration where he was responsible for legal oversight of the nation's trucking, motor coach, moving industry and NAFTA trucking issues for the U.S. Department of Transportation. He also worked to advocate for stronger truck and bus safety regulations. He also has detailed knowledge of the integration of train and motor vehicle transportation interaction.

As the Secretary of Transportation’s personal on-scene representative, Mr. McCown coordinated the restoration of critical national energy infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and was awarded the U.S Department of Transportation's highest medal for this service. During Katrina he was responsible for returning major U.S. refined products pipelines back into service, thereby narrowly avoiding gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel shortages along the eastern seaboard while also ensuring fuel on hand in Louisiana and Mississippi for emergency relief operations. He also coordinated civilian and military airlifts of stranded elderly and non-ambulatory residents from Beaumont, Texas immediately prior to Rita's landfall. Mr. McCown was also in his position during the March 2006 BP oil spill of over 270,000 barrels of oil on the Alaska North Slope. This spill was one of several events that caused the resignation of BP CEO Lord Brown and led to expanded federal government regulatory oversight of low stress crude oil pipelines.

He also helped establish a new nation-wide "811" system aimed at preventing damage to underground utilities and preserving the underground infrastructure of pipelines, conduits, wires and cables. Since its inception, the campaign has increased public awareness about the importance of calling energy companies prior to digging underground so as to ensure all utility lines are marked.

Mr. McCown is a contributor to Forbes, National Journal and Huffington Post and is often quoted by the national press in matters pertaining to energy and transportation. He graduated from Miami University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in diplomacy and foreign affairs. Mr. McCown also holds a law degree from Northern Kentucky University that he obtained in 1997.

Mr. McCown has served the public on active duty in Operation Desert Storm with the United States Navy as a naval aviator and holds an honorary commission of Rear Admiral (LH) in the United States Maritime Administration. Along with this service to the federal government, he has also served on the city of Southlake, TX Planning & Zoning Commission and understands how all levels of government must work together to achieve their goals.