Peter H. Appel was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) on April 29, 2009. From 2009-2011 Appel was the Obama Administration point person on transportation technology issues and research. He left RITA in late 2011 for the private sector to work on emerging technologies in the transportation industry.During his tenure at RITA, Appel worked with Secretary Ray LaHood to advance key U.S.