Hasan Ikhrata is the Executive Director of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and is considered one of the preeminent transportation planning experts in the nation. SANDAG is the leading research, planning, and transportation agency for the San Diego region. Mr. Ikhrata leads a staff of about 350 professionals who develop public policy initiatives for elected officials on numerous issues encompassing population growth, transportation, environmental management, economic development, municipal finance, binational coordination, and public safety. Mr. Ikhrata has over 30 years of public and private sector transportation planning experience in the region.