Austin Vaughn Appointed as Executive Director of the CURRENT Authority
Monday, August 3, 2026 at 9:36:34 AM
MONROE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced Austin Vaughn as the first Executive Director of the Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation (CURRENT) Authority. Vaughn begins his role today and is slated to serve as Executive Director during the Authority's Aug. 5 board meeting.
Vaughn brings more than a decade of experience in community and economic development, infrastructure planning, and grant administration in northwest Louisiana. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coordinating & Development Corporation in Shreveport, where he helped advance regional planning and infrastructure initiatives across the northwest region. Throughout his career, Vaughn has partnered with local governments, regional organizations, and state and federal agencies across North and Central Louisiana to secure funding and advance projects supporting community and economic development.
"Appointing Austin to this position sets the CURRENT Authority up to be driven by the voices and needs of central and north Louisiana,” said DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet. “As someone who lives and works in Shreveport, Austin brings invaluable perspective that will help keep the needs, priorities, and voices of those communities at the forefront of CURRENT’s work."
"It is an honor to serve as the CURRENT Authority's first Executive Director at such an important moment for our state,” said Vaughn. “Having lived and worked in North Louisiana, I understand that the Authority's success will depend on listening to the people who know these challenges best. I look forward to working alongside local, state, and federal partners to develop locally driven solutions that better manage our water resources, strengthen flood resilience, support economic development, and improve quality of life across non-coastal Louisiana."
The CURRENT Authority is a board administered through DOTD, established through Act 418 of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session to develop a comprehensive Master Plan and corresponding Annual Plans for Louisiana's upland region. The Authority will identify, evaluate, and prioritize projects and actions supporting flood control, water resource management, navigation, recreation, and related infrastructure initiatives through a science-based, stakeholder-driven planning process.
As Executive Director, Vaughn will lead the CURRENT Authority as it develops its initial Master Plan, working alongside the Board and stakeholders across Louisiana's upland region to establish a long-term framework to guide future project prioritization and investments decisions. The CURRENT Authority Board will meet Wednesday, Aug. 5, to continue advancing development of the Authority's initial Master Plan.
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