Gov. Jerry Brown has named Brian Annis to be California's acting transportation secretary effective Feb. 1, when current Secretary Brian Kelly leaves to become the next CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

As secretary, Kelly has headed the California State Transportation Agency since its creation in 2013. That agency's stated role is to "to develop and coordinate the policies and programs of the state's transportation entities to achieve the state's mobility, safety and air quality objectives from its transportation system."

That gives it an oversight role to various state offices including the Department of Transportation and the CHSRA.

Annis has been transportation undersecretary since 2013. Before that he was deputy secretary for transportation at the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.