Ron Thaniel is the Senior Director for Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Zoox. Zoox is an autonomous vehicle company that will bring mobility-as-a-service to dense urban environments. The company was founded in 2014 to make personal transportation safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for everyone. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Thaniel held a key leadership position in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation as Director of Governmental and External Affairs. As a political appointee to the agency, Thaniel directed the Office of Governmental Affairs, Policy, and Strategic Planning and led external affairs, ensuring alignment with President Biden’s transportation safety, equity, and climate priorities. Thaniel has also served as Vice President of Public Policy and Legislative Affairs for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. He was also Assistant Executive Director to the United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC. In New York, Thaniel held prominent positions such as Deputy Secretary for Transportation to the Governor of New York and Executive Director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Thaniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Morgan State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Hamline University.
