First woman to serve in role
For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Craig Thompson, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, announced that he had appointed Kristina Boardman as the agency’s next Deputy Secretary.
Boardman replaces outgoing Deputy Secretary Paul Hammer, who is leaving the department to become Deputy Secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
Boardman is WisDOT’s first female Deputy Secretary. She had previously served as the Administrator of WisDOT’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) since 2016.
As Chief Operating Officer, Boardman will oversee the department’s operations, which include 3,200 employees, dozens of field offices and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion, according to a release from WisDOT.
“As DMV administrator, Boardman led WisDOT’s division that serves millions of Wisconsinites each year through online, in-person, phone and mail interactions,” WisDOT stated. “Under her leadership, DMV continually excelled in areas of customer service, efficiency and innovation.”
WisDOT said some of Boardman’s key accomplishments include innovating an award-winning online service for customers to title and register their vehicles, implementing the federal REAL ID program in Wisconsin and expanding opportunities to schedule appointments at DMV service centers.
Boardman is also currently Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors, a national leadership role she holds through September.
“The department greatly benefits from Boardman’s 28-years of state government service, which includes 10 years as a legislative aide for the Wisconsin State Assembly before transitioning to WisDOT in 2005,” WisDOT said.
Prior to becoming DMV administrator, Boardman served as DMV Deputy Administrator and Director of DMV Field Services.