Dru Schmidt-Perkins, executive director of 1000 Friends of Maryland, called the nomination of Porcari a "terrific pick" for the Obama administration.
"Secretary Porcari understands the breadth of transportation issues for its impact on the environment to getting people to jobs," she said. "What is Maryland's loss is really the country's gain."
Shaun Adamec, a spokesman for O'Malley, said no decision had yet been made about a successor to Porcari. He said the governor considers it a "compliment" that Obama would again turn to the O'Malley Cabinet to recruit a high-level official.
Porcari lives in Cheverly with his wife, Heidi, and five children. He said he might end up commuting on Washington's Metro.
"I live on the Orange Line, so that works out pretty well," he said.
Baltimore Sun reporters Gadi Dechter and Julie Bykowicz contributed to this article.
profile john d. porcari
Age: 50
Hometown: Cheverly
Family: Married, five children
Education: B.A., University of Dayton; master's in public administration, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York at Albany
Career: Maryland secretary of transportation (2007-present; 1999-2003); vice president for administrative affairs, University of Maryland, College Park (2003-2007); former Prince George's County development manager
