Mark J.F. Schroeder, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), will retire on April 30 after more than seven years in the position, according to an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul. Schroeder was first nominated to lead the DMV in January 2019.
Governor Hochul praised Schroeder’s impact on the agency, stating, “During my time serving in local government, I saw first-hand both the critical role the DMV plays in the lives of nearly every New Yorker and the ways in which its services badly needed modernization. Then, Mark Schroeder stepped in. In his seven years of service, he has transformed this agency, bringing it into the digital age and reinventing how New Yorkers interact with the essential services it provides. A proud son of Buffalo, Commissioner Schroeder has been a model of public service throughout his career, and I join millions of grateful New Yorkers in wishing him a well-earned retirement.”
Schroeder reflected on his tenure by saying, “It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as DMV Commissioner. When I first took this role, the DMV was the butt of jokes. People would tell me they dreaded visits to our offices, how long they would take and how often they would have to come back because they didn’t have the right paperwork. I made it my mission to change that. Perceptions can take a long time to turn around, but I think we have been steadily effective in changing minds.”
Under his leadership, Schroeder introduced a new vision statement for the DMV focused on improving customer experience and shifting public perception. The department’s website was overhauled to allow more transactions online, while field offices implemented a reservation system and other measures that reduced wait times for customers. Phone lines were streamlined with callback features and self-service options.
Schroeder also managed implementation of federal REAL ID requirements for air travel security documentation after several delays at the federal level. He led outreach efforts by visiting airports across New York State to inform residents about compliance deadlines.
Another milestone during his term was enabling nonbinary individuals to select an ‘X’ gender designation on their driver’s licenses for the first time in state history. At that time he said: “Offering identity documents that are representative of all New Yorkers is a significant milestone. We are thrilled to implement this new option that we know will have a positive impact on the lives of so many of our customers.”
He worked closely with county clerks who operate local DMV offices as agents for NYS DMV and supported their requests for a greater share of online revenue generated by DMV transactions.
Schroeder advocated for organ donation registration through expanded sign-up options at DMV locations; under his leadership, more than half of eligible New Yorkers joined the state’s organ donor registry—a first for New York.
In addition to leading DMV operations, Schroeder served as Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), coordinating multiple state agencies on traffic safety initiatives and overseeing hundreds of millions in grant funding for safety programs statewide.
Before joining DMV leadership, Schroeder was Buffalo city comptroller starting in 2012 and previously served as a member of both the New York State Assembly and Erie County Legislature. He also spent 25 years working as vice president at two large corporations.