Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) announced that Daniel Gage has been named its new president. Gage succeeds Matthew Godlewski, who recently joined Ford Motor Company.

Gage takes over leadership of NGVAmerica at an important time in the organization’s 30-year history as the nation’s leading organization driving the use of natural gas as a clean, domestic, safe and abundant transportation fuel.

“Dan’s deep experience in moving positive initiatives through a variety of channels will be critical as NGVAmerica continues to push for policies that make natural gas fuel more available to the transportation market,” said Mitchell Pratt, chairman of NGVAmerica. “As alternative fuels grab more and more headlines about their potential, it is imperative that our industry communicates the many ways natural gas is the superior choice for fleets that are looking to make a positive impact on the environment and to save money today and into the future.”

Gage will begin at NGVAmerica this month. He holds more than 20 years of experience in government and community relations and public affairs, building effective teams and developing comprehensive messaging campaigns to shape policy at all levels of government. Gage comes to NGVAmerica from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers where he served as Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs since 2011.

Prior to joining the alliance, Gage was a senior staff member in the Washington office of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served as vice president of government relations for JA Green & Company, a boutique Washington firm providing solutions for the U.S. industrial base.

“Natural gas remains the cleanest commercially available transportation option, costing – on average – one-third less than other fuels,” said Gage. “Domestically-sourced, natural gas delivers superior performance and offers the most cost-effective NOx emissions reductions as compared to diesel or electric options.”

More than 165,000 light-, medium-, and heavy-duty natural gas vehicles are on America’s roadways. About 30% of all transit buses operate on natural gas as do approximately 60% of all new refuse truck orders. Natural gas ground vehicles reduce GHG emissions at more than 40 major U.S. airports, and new rail and marine applications currently being developed and deployed offer new long-term opportunities for the industry.

Gage's background also includes a decade of Congressional experience as chief of staff, legislative director, and communications director for former House Appropriations Cardinal Jim Walsh and as director of public affairs for the City of Syracuse, New York under then-Mayor and later HUD Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi. Gage began his public service career as a White House intern in the George H.W. Bush administration under then chief speechwriter Tony Snow.