Chief Administrative Officer

Lester Woods was appointed Chief Administrative Officer on April 1, 2020 after serving in the position on an interim basis since July 2019. In this capacity, he oversees four MoDOT divisions including communications, diversity and inclusion, health and wellness, and human resources. He has been with MoDOT for 19 years, and previously, served as MoDOT’s External Civil Right Director for 15 years. Before coming to MoDOT, he worked in human resources at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Woods holds a bachelor of science degree in wildlife biology from Grambling State University, a master of public administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and was conferred with a doctor of ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in May 2020.