Board Member
Vidhu Shekhar is a technology and public-sector executive whose work connects renewable energy, transportation electrification, artificial intelligence, and critical infrastructure.Early in his career at Foothill Transit, he helped implement the agency’s first electric-bus route. Foothill became the first U.S. transit agency to deploy fast-charge, all-electric buses in regular revenue service.
His energy experience includes renewable energy certificates and technology and AI initiatives supporting public power, including municipally owned utilities, as well as investor-owned utilities.
At Microsoft, Vidhu held leadership roles in government strategy and global partnerships. He also contributed to Generative AI for Permitting, an initiative addressing complex nuclear licensing and permitting processes that later expanded into renewable energy and other infrastructure sectors.
He is the author of Generative Artificial Intelligence Use Cases in State & Local Government and was recognized among the 2025 StateScoop 50 and GovTech AI 50.
Today, Vidhu serves as Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), leading enterprise data governance and AI strategy. His priorities include applying AI to improve roadway safety, traffic operations, asset management, and mobility planning, while building the data, governance, and workforce capabilities needed to deploy AI responsibly and deliver measurable public value.