The deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation is on track to become executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority.

The authority’s board of directors voted unanimously Friday afternoon to appoint Andre Briere to the position Peter Mills held for 13 years before he retired last fall.

Andre Briere Courtesy of Maine Turnpike Authority

The board voted 6-0. A retired career military officer, Briere has been deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire department since August 2021. His appointment to head the Maine Turnpike Authority is subject to legislative approval.

Briere’s nomination comes at a challenging time for the authority. After more than a year of controversy over the proposed Gorham Connector, the Maine Department of Transportation recently assumed responsibility for the search for alternative solutions to commuter traffic congestion west of Portland.

The MTA board sought a candidate with strong leadership skills, a strategic vision and a deep understanding of transportation and infrastructure management, said Chair Michael Cianchette.

“Andre’s extensive experience in both public service and private industry, combined with his leadership acumen, make him the right choice to guide the Maine Turnpike Authority into the future,” Cianchette said in an emailed statement.

The board interviewed 10 or 11 of the more than 30 applicants for the position, Cianchette said. Briere was one of three finalists.

He is a 29-year Air Force veteran who retired as a colonel in 2019 with a breadth of experience in aviation, transportation, logistics, emergency management and large-scale project leadership.

An Air Force Academy graduate, his military career included serving as defense attaché to the Russian Federation, representing the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He is an Air Force command pilot, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt — a highly skilled professional who leads improvement projects — and national executive emergency manager certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He also has held executive positions in the private sector.

Briere oversaw statewide infrastructure programs at NHDOT, where his last day will be March 28.

The Legislature’s transportation committee will hold a public hearing on Briere’s nomination to the MTA in the coming weeks, to be followed by a Senate vote. If confirmed, Briere will become executive director upon taking the oath of office.

Briere’s annual salary will be $216,000, Cianchette said, in line with other top public sector executives in Maine. He will be moving to Maine from Concord, New Hampshire, with a $10,000 relocation stipend from the authority.