Samantha Silverberg Named Undersecretary of Transportation Policy

10:30AM / Sunday, March 01, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Interim Transportation Secretary Phillip Eng announced that Samantha E. Silverberg has been hired as Undersecretary of Transportation Policy at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

A former senior transportation advisor to President Joe Biden, Silverberg will oversee policy development and implementation at MassDOT and manage special projects and initiatives to deliver a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system across the state.

"Interim Secretary Eng is building a strong team at MassDOT to deliver the type of transportation system that our residents and businesses deserve," said Governor Maura Healey. "We are excited to welcome Samantha Silverberg to the team, whose extensive transportation policy experience at both the state and federal levels will be a valuable contribution to the important work that MassDOT is doing every day."

Silverberg was a senior transportation official throughout the Biden Administration, beginning as Special Assistant to the President for Transportation and Infrastructure and later rising to Deputy Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator and finally Deputy Assistant to the President for Infrastructure Implementation in the Office of the Chief of Staff. In this role, she was President Biden's primary policy advisor on matters related to transportation and infrastructure. She was responsible for designing, negotiating, and implementing his signature bipartisan infrastructure law, deploying over $600 billion across transportation, water, high-speed internet, clean energy, resilience, and other sectors.

"It's an honor to return to working in transportation policy in Massachusetts," said Silverberg. "Because of Governor Healey's transportation investments, we have an incredible opportunity to make significant upgrades to roads, bridges and public transportation across the state, while also doing the work now to set this system up for long-term success. I'm grateful to Governor Healey and Interim Eng for placing their trust in me, and I look forward to getting to work with the entire team."

Prior to joining the Biden Administration, she served as Senior Director of Capital Program Planning and then Deputy Chief Administrative Officer at the MBTA during Governor Baker's administration. She is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Silverberg joins MassDOT's executive leadership team alongside Undersecretary of Transportation and Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:52PM / Tuesday, August 25, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the POST Commission.

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub.

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission.

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted. On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April.

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday.

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads.

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline."

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