As the Executive Director of the SPC, Vincent Valdes leads a team of planners, program managers, transportation specialists and engineers who work on creating a common regional vision and implementation program for the communities of southwestern Pennsylvania. The SPC is the federally certified MPO and development district serving this part of the state.

Prior to coming to the SPC, Vincent was the Associate Administrator for Research, Innovation and Demonstration at the Federal Transit Administration, the federal office responsible for providing a national forum for transit research and promoting the development and adoption of innovative practices and technologies in public transportation.

Vincent has worked in various fields including aerospace engineering, transportation research, urban and regional planning, neighborhood economic development, environmental protection, and international development.  He has worked as a lead planner for Washington, DC and as a development manager for the World Bank.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Boston University and a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University.