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Chief Executive Officer

Cleveland Ferguson III

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Cleveland Ferguson III serves as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), leading one of Northeast Florida’s most significant public agencies through a period focused on fiscal discipline, operational performance, accountability and the delivery of safe, reliable transportation services to the community.

Ferguson has served in senior executive leadership at the JTA for more than a decade, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. In that role, he oversaw key administrative, technology and economic development initiatives for the Authority. His work has included leading public-private partnership efforts supporting transit-oriented development, advancing initiatives addressing food access and expanding the use of data science and analytics across the organization.

Throughout his tenure, Ferguson has represented the JTA before congressional leaders and the U.S. Department of Transportation on issues including federal support for safety-sensitive transportation operations, housing and transit, autonomous vehicle technology, workforce development and the use of advanced analytics in public transportation. He also has provided transportation industry leadership and subject-matter expertise through the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA).

Before joining the JTA, Ferguson served as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Jacksonville from 2012 to 2015. During his tenure with the City, he helped expand the use of performance analytics, improve the delivery of citizen services and increase transparency in government operations. His work included initiatives involving property asset management, procurement innovation, employee performance management and Renew Jax, which secured $50 million in investments in infrastructure and community development projects.

Ferguson previously served as a tenured professor at Florida Coastal School of Law. His scholarship in contracts, regulatory policy and constitutional law has been translated into multiple languages and cited by courts and regulators. He also has an extensive record of civic, nonprofit, legal and transportation industry service, including service as a mayoral appointee to the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Chairman of the Florida Legal Services Board of Directors and Secretary of APTA’s Legal Affairs Committee.

Onyx Magazine recognized Ferguson as a 2023 “Man of Honor.” He is a graduate of Leadership Broward Class XXIII, Leadership Jacksonville (2010), Leadership Florida Class XXXIII and the 2017 Eno Transit Senior Executive Program. He is a member of The Florida Bar and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Ferguson earned his Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. Nova Southeastern University conferred upon him a Doctor of Humane Letters in 2018. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution.