Governor names David D. Quintana acting NMDOT secretary, Hidalgo County eyes projects

David D. Quintana will assume the role of acting secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation immediately after Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced his appointment March 4, 2026. The NMDOT press release said, “He will assume the role immediately,” placing Quintana at the head of a department that manages statewide highway planning and construction programs.

Quintana brings more than two decades of service inside NMDOT, rising “from Engineer in Training to his most recent role as Programs and Infrastructure Division Director and Chief Engineer,” the March 4 release states. In that post he oversaw more than 220 employees and managed an annual budget exceeding $500 million, directed the department’s statewide design and construction program, and managed six district offices.

The press release lists technical duties Quintana led: project development, bridge design, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition, and oversight of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan. The ABQ Journal described the STIP as a four-year program designed to execute several federally funded transportation projects in New Mexico, a planning frame Hidalgo County officials will watch if priorities shift under new leadership. Quintana holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University.

Governor Lujan Grisham framed the appointment as continuity in delivery of projects: “David Quintana has spent his career delivering transportation projects that connect our communities and move New Mexico forward,” and “He is well prepared to lead the New Mexico Department of Transportation.” AASHTO and other outlets republished the agency photo credited “Photo by NMDOT” alongside coverage of the change.

Quintana succeeds Ricky Serna, who announced his resignation on Feb. 9 and left the secretary post on Feb. 20, Source New Mexico reported; the State Treasurer’s Office announced on Feb. 27 that Serna had been appointed deputy state treasurer under Laura Montoya. AASHTO characterized Serna’s departure as a retirement after three-and-a-half years in the role. Local contractors and county officials may want to note the quick succession between Serna’s exit and his state treasurer appointment as they track interagency staffing moves that affect project coordination.

None of the agency materials explicitly referenced Hidalgo County projects. The NMDOT press page where the release appeared lists related items that could affect southern New Mexico, including a post titled “NMDOT awards nearly $47 million for 27 local transportation projects” and the finalized 2026 State Rail Plan. Hidalgo County leaders, town managers and contractors should request the current STIP and the list of projects in that $47 million award, and contact the NMDOT district office that serves southern New Mexico for status updates and points of contact under Quintana’s acting leadership.

Quintana’s elevation keeps technical, career NMDOT leadership in place while the governor’s office and the department clarify whether the acting designation will become permanent. Hidalgo County officials will be watching whether the new acting secretary adjusts STIP priorities, district staffing, or the schedule for locally funded construction in the coming months.