Flynn, Johnson to Retire From Vermont Posts
Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn and Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson will both step down from their roles on November 20.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Utilities
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Governor Phil Scott announced that Vermont Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn and Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson will retire from their roles on November 20, 2026.
Why it matters
The departures open leadership posts at two state agencies that oversee Vermont's transportation network and utility regulation. Both officials served through significant projects and budget pressures during their tenures.
Both retirements take effect November 20, 2026, with Flynn serving as transportation secretary since 2016 and Johnson serving as Public Service commissioner since 2024. The extraction does not identify who will succeed either official.
The players
Phil Scott
Phil Scott is the Governor of Vermont, a Republican who has led the state's executive branch and made the appointments to the agencies these officials ran.
Joe Flynn
Joe Flynn is a Vermont transportation official who has led the Agency of Transportation since 2016, overseeing the state's roads, rail, and transit systems across the Scott Administration.
Kerrick Johnson
Kerrick Johnson is a Vermont utility regulator who has led the Department of Public Service since 2024, representing residents' interests in energy and telecommunications proceedings.
The details
Governor Phil Scott announced the retirements of Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn and Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson. During Flynn's tenure, the Department of Motor Vehicles modernized decades-old technology and the Middlebury Tunnel moved from concept to reality, while the Transportation Fund was balanced in 2025 amid declining revenue. Johnson expanded weatherization funding for low- and moderate-income Vermonters and helped secure an independent Asset Condition Reviewer at ISO New England.
Timeline
2016: Flynn appointed secretary of the Agency of Transportation.
2024: Johnson appointed commissioner of the Department of Public Service.
2025: Transportation Fund balanced as revenue declined.
November 20, 2026: Flynn and Johnson retirements take effect.
Utility Leadership Transition
Johnson's tenure advanced redevelopment of the former Vermont Yankee site and a modernized Highgate Converter, placing his departure within an ongoing effort to update Vermont's energy infrastructure. The succession will determine whether those projects keep their current pace.
Vermont residents who rely on state transportation services and utility programs such as weatherization assistance will see the agencies led by new officials after November 20. The extraction does not describe any immediate change to fees, service levels, or program eligibility.
The takeaway
Leadership turnover at state agencies can shift the pace of infrastructure and energy projects, so readers tracking Vermont's transportation or utility programs should watch for the named successors once they are announced.
What happens next
Flynn and Johnson will leave their posts on November 20, 2026, and the state will need to name successors for both roles.
Further reading
Explore more on Vermont utility regulation and energy policy to see how state-level utility oversight is structured.
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