Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Executive and Leadership Team

August, 2026

Leadership Overview

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has 10 executives leading key functions including operations, financial management, administrative coordination, and human resources.

Focused on regional mobility, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority delivers essential public transit services across the Greater Boston area while maintaining rigorous safety standards for all motor vehicle and rail infrastructure.

Leadership Roles at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

  • Chief Financial Officer - Mary Ann O'Hara
  • Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance - Susan Woods
  • Chief Operating Officer - Ryan Coholan
  • Project Coordinator & Chief Operating Officer, Office of - Mallory Bedford
  • Chief of Staff to the COO - Deirdre Habershaw
  • Chief of Staff - Barbara Meachen
  • Dpty Chief Of Staff - Darrin McAuliffe
  • Chief of Staff To the Chief Engineer - Gideon Guilman
  • Chief Human Resources Officer - Thomas Waye
  • Chief of Staff To the Chief Safety Officer - Alessandra Bouchard
  • Mary Ann O'Hara - Chief Financial Officer

    Mary Ann O'Hara, the Chief Financial Officer at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, manages the fiscal health and budgetary allocations for the entire public agency. Overseeing capital investment strategies, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that funding for transit infrastructure projects aligns with long-term regional growth objectives. This leadership role involves auditing financial reports, securing state and federal grants, and optimizing revenue streams from transit operations. By implementing robust financial controls, Mary Ann O'Hara mitigates fiscal risks and enhances transparency across all departments. The Chief Financial Officer works closely with the Board to prioritize capital expenditures that improve service reliability and passenger safety. Through disciplined resource management, O'Hara secures the necessary capital to modernize aging transit assets. This position demands precise forecasting to balance operational costs with the need for system expansion. Ultimately, the Chief Financial Officer maintains the financial stability required to sustain public transportation services.

    Susan Woods - Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance

    Susan Woods, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, manages the long-term capital funding strategies and debt management for the agency. Overseeing the financing of major infrastructure projects, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance ensures that the agency maintains the liquidity required for system modernization. This leadership role involves analyzing capital expenditure requirements, managing bond issuances, and coordinating with financial institutions to secure favorable funding terms. By optimizing the capital budget, Susan Woods supports the expansion and maintenance of the transit network. The Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance works closely with the CFO to align financial planning with the agency's strategic infrastructure goals. Through disciplined fiscal oversight, Woods ensures that capital projects remain within budgetary constraints. This position requires advanced financial modeling to assess the long-term impact of infrastructure investments. Ultimately, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance secures the financial foundation for transit growth.

    Ryan Coholan - Chief Operating Officer

    Ryan Coholan, the Chief Operating Officer at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, directs all daily transit operations across the Greater Boston region. Managing the complex network of rail and bus services, the Chief Operating Officer ensures reliable service delivery for thousands of daily commuters. This leadership role involves coordinating maintenance schedules, optimizing fleet deployment, and overseeing the inspection of transit facilities to maintain safety compliance. By streamlining operational workflows, Ryan Coholan improves system efficiency and reduces service delays. The Chief Operating Officer collaborates with engineering teams to modernize infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability for the agency. Through rigorous oversight of daily transit performance, Coholan maintains high standards of service quality. This position requires constant monitoring of transit metrics to address capacity challenges effectively. Ultimately, the Chief Operating Officer drives the operational excellence necessary to support the regional transportation mission.
    Ryan Coholan

    Mallory Bedford - Project Coordinator & Chief Operating Officer, Office of

    Mallory Bedford, the Project Coordinator & Chief Operating Officer, Office of at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, manages specialized operational projects and administrative support for the COO office. Coordinating cross-departmental initiatives, the Project Coordinator & Chief Operating Officer, Office of ensures that operational improvements align with the agency's broader transit goals. This leadership role involves tracking project timelines, analyzing operational data, and preparing reports for executive review. By streamlining project workflows, Mallory Bedford enhances the efficiency of the COO office and supports the implementation of new transit service protocols. The Project Coordinator & Chief Operating Officer, Office of facilitates communication between operational teams to resolve bottlenecks and improve service delivery. Through meticulous project management, Bedford ensures that strategic initiatives receive the necessary resources for success. This position requires strong analytical skills to monitor the impact of operational changes. Ultimately, the Project Coordinator & Chief Operating Officer, Office of drives the execution of key operational projects.

    Deirdre Habershaw - Chief of Staff to the COO

    Deirdre Habershaw, the Chief of Staff to the COO at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, manages the executive agenda and strategic communications for the Chief Operating Officer. Facilitating the implementation of operational policies, the Chief of Staff to the COO ensures that the COO office remains aligned with the agency's service delivery objectives. This leadership role involves preparing executive briefings, coordinating high-level meetings, and tracking the progress of operational initiatives across the transit network. By streamlining communication between the COO and department heads, Deirdre Habershaw improves the speed and effectiveness of operational decision-making. The Chief of Staff to the COO monitors daily transit performance to provide the COO with timely insights on service reliability. Through careful management of executive priorities, Habershaw supports the successful execution of operational strategies. This position requires strong interpersonal skills to navigate the complexities of a large public agency. Ultimately, the Chief of Staff to the COO drives the operational focus of the executive office.

    Barbara Meachen - Chief of Staff

    Barbara Meachen, the Chief of Staff at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, coordinates executive communications and aligns departmental objectives with the agency's strategic vision. Facilitating collaboration between the C-suite and various operational divisions, the Chief of Staff ensures that organizational priorities receive consistent focus. This leadership role involves managing high-level projects, preparing policy briefings, and streamlining decision-making processes across the agency. By fostering cross-functional communication, Barbara Meachen improves internal efficiency and accelerates the implementation of transit initiatives. The Chief of Staff monitors progress on key performance indicators, providing the executive team with actionable insights to address service gaps. Through effective management of administrative workflows, Meachen supports the seamless execution of agency-wide policies. This position requires deep understanding of public sector governance to navigate complex regulatory environments. Ultimately, the Chief of Staff drives organizational alignment to ensure the agency meets its public service mandates.

    Darrin McAuliffe - Dpty Chief Of Staff

    Darrin McAuliffe, the Dpty Chief Of Staff at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, supports the executive office by managing daily administrative operations and internal project tracking. Assisting the Chief of Staff, the Dpty Chief Of Staff oversees the implementation of strategic directives across various transit departments. This leadership role involves drafting policy documents, coordinating inter-departmental meetings, and ensuring that executive mandates reach completion on schedule. By refining internal processes, Darrin McAuliffe enhances the productivity of the leadership team and reduces administrative bottlenecks. The Dpty Chief Of Staff monitors regional transit trends to provide data-driven support for executive decision-making. Through meticulous attention to operational detail, McAuliffe ensures that the agency maintains focus on its core mission of providing reliable transportation. This position requires strong organizational skills to manage competing priorities within a large public agency. Ultimately, the Dpty Chief Of Staff facilitates the smooth functioning of the executive office.

    Gideon Guilman - Chief of Staff To the Chief Engineer

    Gideon Guilman, the Chief of Staff To the Chief Engineer at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, manages the technical administrative functions and engineering project workflows. Supporting the Chief Engineer, the Chief of Staff To the Chief Engineer coordinates the planning and execution of critical infrastructure upgrades across the rail and bus network. This leadership role involves tracking engineering milestones, managing technical documentation, and ensuring that safety inspections meet regulatory standards. By optimizing project management systems, Gideon Guilman accelerates the delivery of essential transit facility improvements. The Chief of Staff To the Chief Engineer facilitates communication between engineering teams and external contractors to ensure project alignment with agency goals. Through rigorous oversight of technical resources, Guilman supports the modernization of transit assets. This position requires technical proficiency to translate engineering requirements into actionable administrative plans. Ultimately, the Chief of Staff To the Chief Engineer ensures the successful completion of vital infrastructure projects.

    Thomas Waye - Chief Human Resources Officer

    Thomas Waye, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, directs all talent acquisition, labor relations, and workforce development initiatives. Overseeing the recruitment of skilled transit personnel, the Chief Human Resources Officer ensures that the agency maintains a capable workforce to operate complex transportation systems. This leadership role involves negotiating collective bargaining agreements, managing employee benefits, and fostering a culture of safety and professional development. By implementing comprehensive training programs, Thomas Waye improves staff retention and operational performance. The Chief Human Resources Officer collaborates with department heads to align staffing levels with service demands across the Greater Boston region. Through strategic workforce planning, Waye addresses labor challenges and promotes organizational health. This position requires deep expertise in public sector employment law to manage diverse labor relations effectively. Ultimately, the Chief Human Resources Officer builds the human capital necessary to sustain high-quality public transit services.

    Alessandra Bouchard - Chief of Staff To the Chief Safety Officer

    Alessandra Bouchard, the Chief of Staff To the Chief Safety Officer at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, manages the administrative and strategic functions of the safety department. Supporting the Chief Safety Officer, the Chief of Staff To the Chief Safety Officer coordinates safety audits, incident reporting, and compliance monitoring across all transit modes. This leadership role involves tracking safety performance metrics, facilitating inter-departmental safety training, and ensuring that all operations adhere to federal and state regulations. By refining safety communication protocols, Alessandra Bouchard enhances the agency's ability to respond to operational risks. The Chief of Staff To the Chief Safety Officer works with engineering and operations teams to integrate safety standards into daily transit activities. Through rigorous oversight of safety documentation, Bouchard supports the agency's commitment to passenger and employee protection. This position requires a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating potential hazards. Ultimately, the Chief of Staff To the Chief Safety Officer ensures the integrity of the safety management system.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority?
    Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is led by Mary Ann O'Hara (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as Susan Woods (Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance) and Ryan Coholan (Chief Operating Officer).
    Who is part of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s executive team?
    The executive team of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority includes leaders such as Mary Ann O'Hara (Chief Financial Officer), Susan Woods (Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance), Ryan Coholan (Chief Operating Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority have?
    Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Capital Finance, Chief Operating Officer, Project Coordinator & Chief Operating Officer, Office of, Chief of Staff to the COO.