Topeka ? Gov. Sam Brownback has named Barb Rankin to be the acting secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation as the search continues for a permanent secretary.

Rankin is general counsel for the agency. She takes over for Secretary Deb Miller, who resigned to take a job in the private sector.

Miller, whose last day was Friday, was the first woman to lead KDOT. She was the only Cabinet holdover from past Democratic administrations after Brownback, a Republican, took office in January. Miller has been transportation secretary since 2003.

Miller is joining Cambridge Systematics Inc., headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., as a senior associate but will continue to live in Topeka.