Here's who will lead Kansas Department of Transportation, filling Laura Kelly's cabinet

Six months after a job in the governor's cabinet became open, Gov. Laura Kelly has chosen a longtime state employee to lead the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Calvin Reed will be the next KDOT secretary, as long as his appointment is approved by the Senate.

"I am honored to be appointed by Governor Kelly to serve as the next Secretary of Transportation," Reed said in a statement. "KDOT has a proud tradition of providing safe and efficient solutions for Kansas citizens and communities. I am excited to lead an agency that continues to deliver on these generational investments for Kansans."

Reed will lead an agency with a $2 billion annual budget at a time when politicians are no longer looking to the "Bank of KDOT" to use state highway funds to cover revenue shortfalls. Meanwhile, $3.8 billion in federal infrastructure funds are expect to come in over five years.

More: Infrastructure law has sent $1.5 billion to Kansas so far. Here's how it will be spent.

Who is Calvin Reed?

Reed is currently the acting secretary. He has spent more than 15 years at KDOT, including previously serving as the director of the engineering and design division and bureau chief of the structures and geotechnical services division.

His bachelor's and master's degrees are in civil engineering from Kansas State University.

"Calvin Reed has long worked to ensure Kansas families and travelers can travel throughout the state safely and efficiently, making him an obvious choice to lead the agency," Kelly said in a statement. "I welcome his continued service to Kansas and to my administration."

KDOT job and other cabinet positions opened after election

Reed took over as acting secretary in December after the resignation of KDOT secretary Julie Lorenz, who returned to the private sector, and the retirement of deputy secretary Burt Morey.

Lorenz said at the time that with Kelly's reelection in November, it was a good time to resign and allow the governor to search for a new secretary to serve the second term.

Administration turnover at the end of a term is "the natural course of things," Lorenz said, and, "It kind of gives the second term the best opportunity to recruit to find a new secretary."

Turnover in other top leadership positions in the executive branch of government included the secretary of administration, the superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, the adjutant general of the Kansas National Guard and the state fire marshal.

More: KDOT's Julie Lorenz leaves Laura Kelly administration after four years overseeing transportation

Senate committee must confirm appointment

The Democratic governor's appointment must be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Reed's appointment first must be approved by the Kansas Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee. The Legislature's website doesn't show any meeting scheduled yet.

Once approved by the committee, Reed can begin secretary duties ahead of confirmation in the full Senate next year.

In the meantime, state transportation engineer Greg Schieber will serve as acting secretary.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly appoints Calvin Reed as next KDOT secretary