Steven Polunsky is the Senior Energy Policy Specialist for Clean Transportation at the Washington State Department of Commerce. He previously led the Transportation Policy Research Center at the University of Alabama and has served in key legislative, executive, and academic positions addressing transportation, homeland security, regulation, commerce, and energy.

The former Director of Research and Planning for the Texas High-Speed Rail Authority and Legislative Policy Analyst for the Texas Department of Transportation, Polunsky enjoys motorcycling, performing on percussion and autoharp, and amateur radio. He has an MPA from the LBJ School of Public Affairs and an MA in Security Studies with Distinction from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security where he is an HSx Founding Scholar and received the Straub Award for leadership, integrity, vision, and intellectual courage.