In Dabney’s most recent role as Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, she oversaw the budget, management, procurements and grants across the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and six independent agencies. She managed strategic investment of more than $200 billion in annual federal funding to improve the nation’s infrastructure and promote sustainable community development. She also drafted and guided appropriations legislation, transportation components to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and multiple COVID relief bills from inception to enactment, ensuring buy-in from Congress, the Administration and other key bipartisan stakeholders.

Prior to this role, Dabney served as Senior Professional Staff on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, where she led the development and successful enactment of legislation related to shipping, the merchant marine, the Coast Guard, surface transportation and supply chain security policy post-9/11. In addition, she conducted oversight of the efficacy of policies and programs managed by key federal agencies such as the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, Maritime Administration, Federal Railroad Administration and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, to assure they aligned with national security interests, economic goals and public safety standards.

Dabney received a dual bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the College of Charleston and her Master of Arts in public administration from George Mason University.