Former Iowa DOT chief Paul Trombino picked by Trump for federal highway post The Des Moines Register » Trombino, 51, headed the Iowa DOT for five years. He successfully lobbied Iowa lawmakers for a gas-tax increase in 2015 to fund road and bridge construction. He has degrees in civil engineering and economics. Michelle2017-09-26T09:41:43-08:00September 9th, 2017|Trump Appointees, U.S. News|