Governor announces Kristina Boardman to become first woman to serve as WisDOT secretary

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Aug 16th, announced that Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Craig Thompson will be leaving the Evers Administration, effective Sept. 11, 2024, to take a position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Gov. Evers also announced he is appointing Kristina Boardman to serve as WisDOT secretary, who will become the first woman to serve as secretary at the department, according to a review of records by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

“Craig has done a tremendous job at the helm of the Department of Transportation, and I could not be prouder of all the work we’ve been able to do together,” said Gov. Evers. “From fixing thousands of miles of roads and bridges—enough drive from Wisconsin to Key West, Florida, and back, twice—to celebrating the launch of the first new passenger rail train in Wisconsin in over 20 years to making critical headway on building the 21st-century infrastructure we need to compete in the 21st-century economy, Craig has been part of this work every mile of the way. Craig has always brought a genuine good nature to every meeting, event, and the many hours spent traveling across the state, which has made him a welcomed friend who will be greatly missed. We cannot thank him enough for his years of dedicated service to the state, and we wish him all the best in this next chapter.”

With more than three decades of notable experience working with Wisconsin businesses, industry stakeholders, local communities, and units of government, Secretary Thompson has been a critical partner in driving efforts to modernize and advance the state’s transportation system and undo a decade of disinvestment in Wisconsin’s roads and infrastructure under the previous administration. Having helped secure critical investments in three consecutive state biennial budgets that increased transportation revenues for the department, under Gov. Evers, the Evers Administration has worked to improve more than 7,400 miles of road and 1,780 bridges, including over 900 miles of road and over 200 bridges in 2023 alone. WisDOT has also worked to advance innovative initiatives to address reckless driving and improve road safety, bolster diverse transportation options, such as harbors, rail, and transit, and promote the goals of the Evers Administration to build a strong, clean energy economy, including by supporting efforts to advance the state’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure and more.

“I joined this administration five years ago with clear a directive from the top to ‘fix the darn roads,’ and I am proud to see how far we’ve come as a state toward that goal in just a short time,” said WisDOT Secretary Thompson. “I have also been incredibly privileged to learn from and lead a group of dedicated, talent public servants at the WisDOT that I couldn’t be prouder of. No matter where they live, the people of Wisconsin deserve roads and transportation systems they can trust, and I know that under Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration, this work will continue in the months and years ahead just as it has from the beginning. I am incredibly grateful to Gov. Evers for his friendship and the trust and confidence he’s placed in me. I know Kristina is going to do a great job in her new role, and I am excited to see all of the good work she and the Evers Administration will do moving forward.”

On Aug 16th, Gov. Evers also announced Kristina Boardman will succeed Secretary Thompson as secretary of WisDOT, becoming the first woman to serve as secretary. Boardman is currently the deputy secretary of WisDOT and was the first woman to serve in that role at the department.

“For nearly 20 years, Kristina has been a key part of the WisDOT team, and her proven leadership and experience at the department, both as deputy secretary and during her time leading the DMV, have positioned her well to be an exceptional secretary,” said Gov. Evers. “I look forward to the vision and insight she will bring as a member of my cabinet and trust that her transition into the role will be seamless.”

Prior to her role as deputy secretary, Boardman previously served as administrator of WisDOT’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and under her leadership, the DMV continually excelled in areas of customer service, efficiency, and innovation. Key accomplishments of her time as DMV administrator include innovating an award-winning online service for customers to title and register their vehicles, implementing the federal REAL ID program in Wisconsin, and expanding opportunities to schedule appointments at DMV service centers. Boardman also served as chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators International Board of Directors for the 2022-23 federal fiscal year.

“I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from Secretary Thompson and know I have important shoes to fill,” said Boardman. “This is an incredibly exciting opportunity, and I am thankful to Gov. Evers for his confidence in me to take over this new role. We have made some incredible progress these last several years to build transportation systems the people of Wisconsin can rely on, and I am excited to continue building upon that momentum as secretary at the department.”

Boardman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and has nearly three decades of state government service, including 10 years as a legislative aide for the Wisconsin State Assembly, before transitioning to WisDOT in 2005. Prior to becoming DMV administrator, Kristina served as DMV deputy administrator and director of DMV field services.

A photo of Boardman is available here.