Horsley, Basso to retire from AASHTO

   The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials announced Friday that Executive Director John Horsley and Jack Basso, director of program finance and management, plan to retire effective Feb. 1, 2013.
   Both men have strong reputations for skillfully representing state interests in infrastructure development and ensuring continued federal support for highway aid programs. Basso is known for understanding the nuances of federal budget, the appropriations process and transportation finance.
   Horsley has led AASHTO since 1999. He spent the previous six years as assistant deputy secretary for transportation, serving as a liaison to state and local governments and pushing intermodal policies and quality of life initiatives. Prior to coming to Washington, Horsley served five terms as a county commissioner in Kitsap County, Wash.
   Basso joined AASHTO in 2001 and oversees the organization’s budget. He served from 1998 to 2001 as assistant secretary for budget programs and chief financial officer for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Prior to that he was deputy assistant secretary for budget and programs.
   AASHTO said its Executive Committee would begin a search for candidates to replace Horsley and Basso, but did not give a timeframe for completing the process.