Authority Team

Brian has been engaged in the private practice of law, with a focus on real estate development. From 2014-2022, he served as Director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (d/b/a Boston Planning and Development Agency), which has responsibility for city planning, the review of major development proposals, and management of 20 million square feet of agency-owned property. Brian served as New England Regional Director of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications & Energy, and State Representative for the Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston and part of the Town of Brookline. He served for thirty years in the US Army (active and reserve). Duty locations included the Pentagon, Iraq, Bosnia, Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Brian is a graduate of the Boston Latin School, Harvard College, and the College of William & Mary School of Law.

James Rust, Deputy Director, Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Rust joined the Authority in March 2025, and is responsible for the financial operations of the Authority, managing the Authority’s financial controls, insurance program, accounting, reporting, debt and rate-setting process and providing general financial oversight and strategic direction. Mr. Rust has been serving public issuers since 2001, working on debt financing, capital planning, and financial management. Mr. Rust joined the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as the Director of Financial Planning in 2004.  Subsequently, he served as the Finance Manager with the Authority and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer with the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission. Mr. Rust has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a joint Master’s degree in Public Policy and Urban Planning from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and Graduate School of Design.  He holds a Series 65 license as a Registered Financial Advisor.

Ms. Bench joined the Authority in January 2015 as Controller, overseeing accounting, treasury and financial reporting.  Her prior experience includes serving as the Assistant Budget Director for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance.  She began her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and is a Certified Public Accountant. Ms Bench has a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a Masters of Accounting Degree, both from Boston College.