Judge Edward M. Emmett
CSRS Board Member
Edward M. Emmett is a fellow in energy and transportation at the Baker Institute. His research efforts are focused on freight mobility, building a resilient global supply chain, and understanding highways' past, present, and future roles. Emmett also leads the team that sponsors the annual Houston Global Freight Summit.
Mr. Emmett's background in transportation policy spans decades. A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Mr. Emmett was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national energy and transportation policy committees.
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Mr. Emmett as a commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission. After being confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, he served on the commission for three years.
Following his service at the Interstate Commerce Commission, Mr. Emmett was president of The National Industrial Transportation League from 1992 until 2003, when he created The Emmett Company, a transportation policy consulting firm. From 2007 until 2019, Mr. Emmett served as County Judge of Harris County, Texas. In that role, he was the chief executive officer of the nation's third-largest county and was the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Mr. Emmett has received international recognition for his work in transportation and logistics policy. He was named Transportation Person of the Year by Transportation Clubs International and one of the Top 20 Logistics Professionals by Logistics Forum.
Currently, Mr. Emmett has several critical roles in the development of transportation policy. He chairs the Texas Department of Transportation Freight Advisory Committee and is on numerous transportation-related advisory boards.