"Introduction During one transportation CEO's tenure@ there were four major snowstorms@ two major tornados@ and a flood event spanning the longest duration in U.S. history. Another CEO experienced the ""perfect storm"" in his first emergency response situation??the loss etirement of critical experienced staff@ inaccurate information@ and new leadership that was not prepared??that turned a localized weather event into a statewide emergency@ stranding hundreds of trucks and motorists for more than 20 hours and closing major highways for four days. As these examples demonstrate@ learning emergency response ""under fire"" is an all-too-common experience. Senior executives who lead state departments of transportation (DOTs) have the responsibility of planning@ delivering@ operating@ and maintaining a transportation network that includes over four million miles of roads serving local@ regional@ and national travel needs@ along with many rail lines@ bus and rail transit systems@ ferries@ ports@ and waterways. An agency's emergency preparedness capabilities??preparing for@ responding to@ and recovering from a major event??are critical to safe and efficient operation of the nation's transportation network. The agency you are leading@ one of 52 across the nation@ has been on the leading edge of a transition to a new way of thinking and approach to services. Transportation is no longer focused on building the nation's infrastructure@ as it had been for nearly 200 years. Over the last 15 years@ agencies through American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) have been focused on understanding@ inventing@ and implementing a refocused mission and serving the nation's transportation needs. To get a sense of this changing environment@ consider three major initiatives that DOT agencies are pursuing."