Nat Ford
About Nat Ford
Nat Ford is the CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, where he has served since 2012. He has held various leadership positions in public transportation and has received multiple awards for his contributions to the field.
Work at Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Nat Ford has served as the CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority since 2012. In this role, he oversees the operations and strategic direction of the agency, which is responsible for public transportation in the Jacksonville, Florida area. His leadership has focused on enhancing service delivery and improving transportation infrastructure.
Education and Expertise
Nat Ford holds a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Organizational Leadership from Mercer University, where he studied from 2003 to 2005. He also earned an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Golden Gate University from 1995 to 1997. Additionally, he completed an Executive MBA at Jacksonville University from 2015 to 2017 and participated in executive training at Harvard Kennedy School. His educational background supports his extensive experience in transportation management.
Background
Nat Ford has a diverse background in public transportation, having held various leadership positions across multiple organizations. He served as Executive Director/CEO of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency from 2006 to 2011 and as General Manager/CEO of MARTA from 1997 to 2006. His career began at New York City Transit, where he worked in various roles, including Deputy Line Superintendent and Superintendent of District Night Operations.
Achievements
Nat Ford has received several accolades for his contributions to transportation. He was awarded the Jacksonville Urban League’s Clanzel T. Brown, Sr. Award in 2016 and the Ray LaHood Award from the Women’s Transportation Seminar of Northeast Florida in 2022. He has also been inducted into the First Coast Business Hall of Fame and served as the 2022 Chair of the Transportation Research Board.
Board Memberships and Leadership Roles
Nat Ford holds several significant positions in various organizations. He is an honorary member and past chair of the American Public Transportation Association and serves on the UF Health Board of Directors. Additionally, he chairs the Goodwill Industries of Northeast Florida Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive Advisory Board of Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business.