DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson announces new executive counsel
Monday, April 04, 2022 at 8:00:27 AM
BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary Shawn Wilson, Ph.D. announced the addition of Darhlene Major as executive counsel for the department.
Major joined DOTD in 2008 and has more than twenty years of legal experience. She served in Legal, Contract Services and eventually served as the Legal Section liaison to operations. She has worked with executive staff and project managers in the development and interpretation of engineering contracts, cooperative endeavors, and other agreements, including the revision of the Right of Way Section’s contracting processes. In 2016, she assumed the role of consultant contract services administrator, and she is involved in the department’s implementation of many new initiatives in that unit in coordination with other DOTD divisions. Major received her J.D. from LSU Law Center and her M.Ed. and B.S. in education from LSU.
“It’s a pleasure to announce Darhlene as executive counsel at DOTD,” said Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “With her knowledge of the department and legal experience, she will undoubtedly continue to build on what the legal team has accomplished and support the Office of the Secretary. I’m sad to see former Executive Counsel Deidre Deculus Robert leave the department, but I’m proud that she has advanced in her career. We wish her well.”
After two years of exemplary service with DOTD, former Executive Counsel Deidre Deculus Robert was appointed by President Biden to serve as the USDA state director of rural development. During her tenure at DOTD, Robert played a significant role in executing key legislation to advance the department and was instrumental in developing the Innovative Procurement Section. She also helped to develop a cohesive legal team.