Jeff Ely, P.E., serves as Chief of Staff for the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), helping lead agency operations and advance transportation programs and infrastructure initiatives across the state. With more than two decades of experience at MDOT, he began his career with the agency in 2002 and has held leadership roles in planning, pre-construction, and operations. Before being named Chief of Staff in 2022, Ely served as Assistant Chief Engineer and previously led MDOT’s Planning Division, where he helped guide statewide transportation planning and project development efforts. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.