Cleon Cauley named acting DelDOT secretary

Cleon L. Cauley Sr. will serve as acting secretary of Delaware Department of Transportation, effective Monday, March 21. He currently serves as deputy secretary.

An attorney, Cauley chairs the Governor’s Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues advising the cabinet on matters relating to the orderly growth and development of the state. He also chairs the Governor’s Supplier Diversity Council.

DelDOT Secretary Carolann Wicks announced her retirement last month. She said Cauley has been instrumental during transition.

“Cleon has expressed to the Governor’s Office a willingness to assist DelDOT through this transition, however, he has advised us that he will not be seeking the position as the new secretary of transportation,” Wicks said.  “Instead, Cleon has agreed to help guide the agency as acting secretary and to provide additional continuity for the department until the process for selecting the new secretary is completed.”

Before joining DelDOT, Cauley served as deputy legal counsel to Gov. Jack Markell, advising the governor on legal and policy issues. As the state’s first economic development ombudsman, Cauley helped to coordinate activities across agencies, ensuring a rapid response to economic development issues by serving as a liaison to businesses, communities, local economic development organizations, regulatory agencies, local governments and state agencies. Before joining the Governor's Office, Cauley worked as an attorney in WolfBlock LLP's Real Estate, Environmental and Land Use Practice Groups, where he concentrated his practice on zoning and land-use matters including land-use litigation.

Before joining WolfBlock, Cauley served as assistant county attorney and land-use attorney for New Castle County. Cauley also served as a deputy attorney general for the Delaware Department of Justice, prosecuting criminal cases in Superior Court, Family Court, Court of Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace Courts.

Cauley is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and of Immaculata University. He is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania.