Fernando Dutra

About Fernando Dutra

Metro’s FY26 Board Chair, Fernando Dutra, brings a lifelong commitment to community, inclusion, and public service as he steps into this key leadership role.

Chair Dutra represents the Gateway Cities region and currently serves on the Whittier City Council. He has been a member of the Metro Board since 2021, most recently serving as Vice Chair and Chair of the Construction Committee. These roles have given him critical insight into the projects, priorities, and people shaping Metro’s daily work.

Born in Faial, Azores, Chair Dutra’s story is one of resilience and determination. He immigrated to the United States at age 10 with his mother, after living in Papua New Guinea, Angola, and Mozambique where she worked as a school administrator and helped establish 10 schools. She taught hundreds of children to read and write, instilling in him the belief that access to education and a fair chance can transform lives.

Shortly after they arrived in Boston, his mother’s work visa expired, and she had to return overseas. For the next three years, Chair Dutra lived without immediate family, navigating a new country largely on his own. When his parents were finally able to return, he stepped into a leadership role within the household, helping them set up basic utilities and supporting their transition to life in the U.S. He taught his three-year-old brother English, helped his mother study to become a dental assistant, and supported his father as he studied to become a welding contractor. His mother went on to establish a bilingual school in the ABC Unified School District that still serves students today. These early experiences shaped Chair Dutra’s deep understanding of the value of opportunity and lifting others up—principles that continue to guide his leadership.

Chair Dutra became a naturalized citizen in 1984, an experience he describes as one of deep gratitude and pride. While he has remained closely connected to his Portuguese roots, he sees citizenship as the ultimate reward and carries a strong sense of responsibility to give back. He is particularly passionate about making Metro a place where immigrant communities feel seen, valued, and safe. Chair Dutra believes fear should never be a barrier to participating in daily life, and he is committed to ensuring that leadership reflects compassion and the courage to stand against fear-based narratives.

As a licensed general contractor and President of Allwest Development, Chair Dutra brings decades of professional experience in infrastructure and housing delivery. He understands the importance of building systems that last, while keeping the needs of the people who use them as a north star.

His public service includes roles on Whittier’s Planning Commission, the YMCA Board, and former Chair of the Washington Blvd. Light Rail Extension Coalition. As former Chair of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG), Chair Dutra helped establish the Gateway Cities Affordable Housing Trust, which funds affordable housing projects across the 27 cities that make up the Southeast LA Region.

These leadership roles reflect Chair Dutra’s deep commitment to ethical governance, community-centered planning, and creating a future where infrastructure and housing work hand in hand to serve the people who need them most.

As Chair, Dutra is focused on four key priorities:

1. Strengthening safety across the Metro system
2. Investing in the next generation of transportation leaders by highlighting Metro’s career and education programs
3. Ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget
4. Expanding opportunities for locally based contractors, architects, and engineers

His focus on inclusive development and long-term planning aligns closely with the values Metro employees bring to life every day, whether maintaining vehicles, assisting riders, or managing behind-the-scenes planning.

Chair Dutra brings a people-first approach to everything he does and will help guide Metro’s next chapter of growth with a clear focus on what matters most: delivering a system that is truly better for everyone.

• Committees
• Board Reports

Committees