Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that Mark J. F. Schroeder will retire as commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles after more than seven years leading the agency.
Schroeder, first nominated to the position in January 2019, will step down April 30.
During his tenure, the DMV underwent major modernization efforts, including upgrades to outdated operating systems, expanded online services and a stronger focus on customer experience. He also guided the agency through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to new appointment systems, shorter wait times and more streamlined office visits.
Hochul credited Schroeder with transforming how New Yorkers interact with the DMV and bringing the agency into the digital age.
Under his leadership, the department revamped its website to allow dozens of transactions to be completed online, launched a reservation system at field offices, improved phone support with callback features and added self-service options.
Schroeder also oversaw the state’s rollout of the federal REAL ID program, traveling to airports statewide to raise awareness about new identification requirements for air travel.
Other initiatives included allowing nonbinary residents to select an “X” gender designation on driver’s licenses and expanding opportunities for residents to enroll in the state’s organ donor registry. For the first time, more than half of eligible New Yorkers are now registered as donors.
In addition to leading the DMV, Schroeder serves as chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, helping direct hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to traffic safety programs across the state.
Before joining the DMV, the Buffalo native served as Buffalo city comptroller, a member of the State Assembly and the Erie County Legislature, and spent 25 years in the private sector.
Schroeder said serving as commissioner has been “the honor of my lifetime,” adding that he set out to change long-held perceptions about the DMV and improve service for customers statewide.
