John Alley has announced he will retire from King County Metro Transit in Seattle, Wash., on Aug. 31, ending 50 years of service in the fleet industry. Alley is the transit agency’s vehicle maintenance manager. 

Vehicle Maintenance oversees nearly 1,500 transit coaches, 550 non-revenue support vehicles, seven maintenance operations bases, a component supply center, fleet procurement, fleet engineering and training, and data management.  Vehicle Maintenance employs more than 750 professional staff and support personnel and has an annual operating budget of more than $135 million and an annual procurement budget of more than $130 million.

Alley previously served as deputy director of the City of San Diego, Calif., Fleet Services Division. In that position, he oversaw a fleet consolidation that included more than 4,000 vehicles. He also worked as the San Diego Police Department fleet administrator and has also worked with the Washington State Patrol and the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Alley’s awards include the 2010 Government Fleet MagazinePublic Sector Fleet Manager of the Year, NAFA’s Larry Goill Award in 2009, and the San Diego Taxpayer Association’s Golden Watchdog Award in 2009.  He was recently inducted into Government Fleet Magazine’sPublic Fleet Hall of Fame.

Alley and his wife Betty plan to spend time with family and on hobbies.