WASHINGTON The Obama Administration is beginning to name the heads of the key administrations within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Victor Mendez, former head of the Arizona Department of Transportation, has been nominated to lead the Federal Highway Administration and Charles Hurley, a longtime safety advocate, to run the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The White House also announced President Obamas intention to nominate administrators for the USDOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.

The president has not yet selected a nominee to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, however.

Mendez, who served on the Obama transition team, "has extensive experience in transportation, including innovations in the areas of funding and financing, technology, infrastructure, research, planning and internal operations," according to the White House release.

As FHWA administrator, Mendez would oversee the entire federal highway program, guiding policies on every issue, including highway funding mechanisms.

Hurley, the White Houses pick to lead NHTSA, has been chief executive of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the past four years. He previously held positions with the National Safety Council and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

As NHTSA administrator, Hurley would oversee such key motorcoach industry issues as the federal governments first crash test program of over-the-road buses, equipment standards and safety recalls.

The White House also announced Obama planned to nominate Peter Rogoff to head the Federal Transit Administration.

Rogoff, a member of the Democratic staff on the Senate Appropriations Committee, "is an acknowledged expert in the area of federal infrastructure budgeting and finance, having had an active role in the financing of each of the last three comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization bills," the White House announcement said.

Obama also has nominated Peter Appel to head the Research and Innovative Technology Administration in the USDOT.

Appel, a principal with the global management consulting firm of A.T. Kearney Inc., "has over 20 years of experience in transportation and has supported organizations in the railroad, trucking, airline and ocean shipping industries," the White House said.