New Staff Profiles
 Dwight Hewett
Program Assistant
(404) 562-3931
dwight.hewett@fhwa.dot.gov
Dwight is a Program Assistant on the FHWA Resource Center's Construction and Project Management TST. Dwight retired from the U.S. Army last year with more than 24 years of active service. He served as a First Sergeant and Master Sergeant with the specialty in human resources and administrative assistance. Since retirement, Dwight has worked temporary positions as administrative assistant for Coca Cola Enterprises, Inc., and Matria Healthcare, Inc. Dwight served on active duty for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army since 1972. He served in Kuwait and Iraq for both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dwight is a graduate of Georgia State University with a B.A. in geography.
 Naser Abu-Hejleh
Geotechnical Engineer
(720) 963-3243
naser.abu-hejleh@fhwa.dot.gov
Dr. Abu-Hejleh comes to the Geotechnical and Hydraulics Technical Service Team from the Colorado Department of Transportation, where he served as the State Geotechnical Research Engineer. He holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder; a master's degree in civil engineering from the M.E.T. University, Ankara, Turkey; and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan. He has been very active in the geotechnical engineering community, serving on several NCHRP Panels and TRB Committees. In addition, he is well published and has authored numerous professional journal papers and research reports. His key areas of expertise include settlement of soils, drilled foundations design and load testing, mechanically stabilized earth walls, development of geotechnical programs, LRFD; and instrumentation. He will join the FHWA Resource Center in the Olympia Fields, Illinois, office.
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 Raj Ailaney
Senior Structural Engineer
(410) 962-2542
raj.ailaney@fhwa.dot.gov
Raj is a Senior Structural Bridge Engineer on the FHWA Resource Center's Structures Technical Service Team (TST). His emphasis areas include: bridge design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance; infrastructure asset management; and bridge management practices and software tools. He began his career in structural engineering in 1985, and he joined FHWA in 2003. Raj is responsible for providing advice on design, construction, and rehabilitation of bridges; design and construction of major structures and deployment of new bridge technologies, particularly those related to high performance material, and the use of prefabricated bridge elements in accelerated bridge construction. Previously, he led a team of bridge engineers for planning projects from conceptual design to construction encompassing program planning, as well as project development and delivery, and ensured QA/QC during design and construction of infrastructure projects in both rural and urban settings for various State DOTs. Prior to joining the Resource Center Structures TST, Raj served on Caltrans' San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span Project Cost Estimate Review Team, which conducted detailed review of costs estimate and developed a probability range to complete the East Span project; provided technical assistance to Division office employees; and delivered executive briefings on bridge management systems. He is a Registered P.E. in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Raj earned his B.S. in civil engineering in 1985 from R.V. College of Engineering in India and his master's in civil engineering in 1998 from the University of Virginia.
Retirements
Jerry Barkdoll
Environmental Specialist
FHWA Resource Center (Baltimore)
Scheduled to Retire: February 1, 2006
Began working in field in 1992
Joined FHWA in 1981
Jerry earned her B.S., Accounting/Education, her M.A., Psychology/Counseling, and her M.P.A., Public Administration from the University of Denver
Historic Preservation, Goucher College/National Historic Trust, Continuing Education Professional Program
Postgraduate studies in planning and historic preservation—Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University, and Florida State University
Professional certification, historic preservation
Jerry is held in high esteem for her knowledge in the areas of:
- Section 106/Sec. 4(f) and human/community environmental impacts
- Interrelationship of NEPA and related programs (TE, scenic byways, historic roads, roadside native vegetation)
- Interagency and inter-organizational coordination
- Workshop planning and execution
Among Jerry's professional highlights:
- National, State, and local historic preservation and archeological societies
- Alliance for the Preservation of Historic Landscapes; member, board of directors
- FHWA environmental training program and Environmental Training Center
- Division and Region office experience in environment and planning in both urban and rural States
- Participant in one of the first State implementations of the merged interagency NEPA/404 processes
- Developed Section 106 forums and Northeast roadside vegetation workshops
- FHWA representative to the Chesapeake Bay program Federal Agencies Committee
Anita Elion
Civil Rights Specialist
FHWA Resource Center (Olympia Fields)
Retired: May 31, 2005
Began working in field in 1993
Anita earned her master's of political science from Governors State University
Throughout her career she provided valuable knowledge on civil rights program matters
Among Anita's proudest accomplishments during her career:
- American Association for Affirmative Action, member
- National Highway Institute certified instructor
- Civil Rights specialist for the Resource Center
Joe Forst
Civil Rights Specialist
FHWA Resource Center (Olympia Fields)
Retired: December 30, 2004
Joined FHWA in 1990
Joe earned his B.A. in
philosophy from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary
M.S., Public Administration, DePaul University
Throughout his career he provided valuable knowledge on civil rights program matters and contract compliance.
Among Joe's proudest accomplishments spanning his career:
- His work serving as Civil Rights specialist, where he gained experience with OFCCP programs enforcing EO 11246; chaired a group responsible for evaluating civil rights training and development, with responsibility for making recommendations to improve training for all specialists as well as new employees; and finalized a report that was submitted to Headquarters for review and implementation
- Working for five Federal agencies, implementing and reviewing; experienced with both internal and external EEO programs, affirmative action programs, and contract compliance
- Obtaining NHI certification, 2002
- Receiving ADR training in mediation, 2001
- Working closely with Midwestern Divisions and States regarding training and implementation of Title 6 interdisciplinary approach
Dan Harris
Environmental Program Specialist
FHWA Resource Center
(San Francisco)
Retired: October 1, 2005
Began working in field in 1971
Joined FHWA in 1971
Dan earned his B.S. in resource sciences from the University of California at Davis
Among Dan's most remarkable career accomplishments:
- Serving as a "Friend" of the TRB A1F04 Committee on Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration
- Working in association with the FHWA Headquarters Noise Team in developing and interpreting national noise policy and guidance, and in responding to inquiries from the field
- Instructing the NHI 142007A training course, "Fundamentals and Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise," for State DOTs, local agencies, consultants, and FHWA field offices
- Serving on the FHWA/FTA team updating the FHWA technical advisory T6640.8A, "Guidance for Preparing and Processing Environmental and Section 4(f) Documents," and the FHWA/NHI/FTA team revising the NHI 142005A training course, "NEPA and the Transportation Decision Making Process"
- Instructing the NHI 142005A training course, "NEPA and the Transportation Decision Making Process," for State DOTs, local agencies, consultants, and FHWA field offices
Keith D. Herbold
Pavement Engineer
Acting Team Leader,
Pavement and Materials
Technical Service Team
FHWA Resource Center (Olympia Fields, IL)
Retired: January 3, 2006
Keith had an impressive career with the FHWA, providing nearly 38 years of service in the areas of geotechnical, materials, and pavement engineering with assignments in the Washington office and the field, culminating as the Acting Team Leader for the Pavement and Materials Technical Service Team.
Keith earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering at North Dakota State University in 1967, followed by a Master of Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky in 1968.
Keith was known for his extensive expertise in the following disciplines:
- Design, construction, and maintenance of pavements
- Pavement preservation
- Life-cycle cost analysis
Among Keith's most remarkable career accomplishments:
- Registered Professional Engineer—Illinois
- Member—American Society of Civil Engineers
- FHWA Superior Achievement Award—1988
- FHWA Engineering Excellence "Top Ten" Award—2000
- FHWA Strive for Excellence "Customer Service" Award—2000
- NHI Certified Instructor
Throughout his career, Keith has provided valuable knowledge and service in numerous positions:
- Managed the Midwestern pavement program since 1985
- Served on State highway agencies and a variety of pavement related expert task groups and panels
- Served as secretary of the Maintenance Management Task Force of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Subcommittee on Maintenance
- Served as a member of AASHTO's Lead State Team on Pavement Preservation
- Co-founded the Midwestern Pavement Preservation Partnership
- Member of TRB committees AFH50 on PCCP Construction, AFS60 on Subsurface Drainage, and AFO20T Task Force on Roadway Pavement Preservation
- Interacted with several other Transportation Research Board committees
- Organized and hosted the 2001 U.S./Korea Road Workshop
- Led the FHWA/AASHTO European scan on Superior Materials
- Active as a trainer and presented courses throughout the United States and overseas
- Frequent member of FHWA consultant selection panels
Sam Mansukhani
Geotechnical Engineer
FHWA Resource Center (Olympia Fields)
Retired: August 1, 2005
Began working in field in 1971
Joined FHWA in 2000
Sam earned his M.S. in geotechnical engineering from State University of New York at Buffalo, and a bachelor of technology degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology
Among Sam's most remarkable career accomplishments:
- Membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers
- Serving as President, State Director, and Past Secretary of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers
- Serving as former chair of the "Houston Engineer of the Year" Selection Committee
- Served as geotechnical engineer for the FHWA Resource Center
- Being founder, owner, and manager of a geotechnical consulting firm for 13 years
- Serving for 5 years as executive vice president of operations for a major national geotechnical consulting company, responsible for 30 offices with 400 employees and annual revenues of $30 million
- Serving on the advisory board of Houston Community College, Houston, Texas
- For the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, providing geotechnical and materials engineering services for numerous bridges, buildings, interstate pavements, road and street improvements, railroad construction, and waterline crossings
- For U.S. Highway 95/Arizona DOT and Parsons Brinckerhoff, performing a corridor study, including geological and site reconnaissance, literature search, and review of design and as-built drawings
- For the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, providing geotechnical work on transit centers, park-and-rides, bus shelters, bus maintenance facilities, operation centers, and bridge and street improvements, including rigid and flexible pavement design, development of pile and pier capacity versus depth curves, lime or cement soil stabilization, and lateral earth pressure analyses
- Serving as project director for the City of Houston, Texas, and FAA during the construction of runways and taxiways for William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Air Force Base, including asphalt mix design, concrete mix design, lime-soil and lime-aggregate mix design, lime stabilized soil and aggregate base testing, and inspection, control, and certification of all construction materials
Roland Nimis
Structural Design Engineer
FHWA Resource Center (San Francisco)
Scheduled to Retire: January 2006
Began working in field in 1970
Joined FHWA in 1970
Roland earned his B.S. in civil engineering from San Jose State University, San Jose, California.
Throughout his career he provided valuable knowledge on:
- National bridge inspection program
- Highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program
- Bridge design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance
- Seismic design and retrofitting of bridges
When asked what accomplishment he is most proud of during his 35+ year career, Roland said, "I am most proud of my involvement in planning, designing, and constructing the Interstate system in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. When the 50th anniversary of the Interstate System is celebrated in 2006, I will stand proud alongside all the other FHWA and Bureau of Public Roads individuals who helped make the largest infrastructure project in the world a reality."
Among Roland's most memorable career accomplishments:
- Chairing of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd National Seismic Conferences on Bridges and Highways
- Western Bridge Engineers Seminar, Executive Board membership
- American Society of Civil Engineers, membership
- American Segmental Bridge Institute, membership
- FHWA Transportation System Preservation Working Group, membership
- Secretary's Commendation for Earthquake Disaster Relief Assistance, 1990
- Administrator's Superior Achievement Award, 1990
- Regional Administrator's Commendation for Outstanding Community Service, 1990
- Serving as senior structural engineer, Resource Center; experienced in design, construction, maintenance, and inspection of bridges; provides design, construction, and program support to Division offices, State DOTs, local agencies, and consultants; involved in design of major structures and deployment of new bridge technologies, particularly those related to high performance material, seismic design, and seismic retrofitting of structures
- Serving as Infrastructure and Operations Team leader, regional structural engineer, Regional construction engineer, assistant Division bridge engineer, and construction inspector, with experience in design and construction of numerous routine and complex structures
Monte Symons
Team Leader
Pavement and Materials
Technical Service Team
FHWA Resource Center (Atlanta)
Retired: July 1, 2005
Monte earned both his B.S. and his M.S. in civil engineering from the University of Illinois.
Throughout his career he provided valuable knowledge on:
- Pavement engineering
- Pavement materials
- Pavement management
- Pavement evaluations
Among Monte's finest career accomplishments:
- Serving as a team leader and program manager for the Long-Term Pavement Performance program, a 20-year pavement research program on 2,400 in-service pavements throughout North America; handling all aspects of pavement performance, including performance data collection, processing, analysis, data-base management and products were developed and implemented
- Providing technical advice on all pavement materials related issues to the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works
- Employing as geotechnical and pavement engineer, project engineer, and chief of the geotechnical section for the Western Direct Federal Program, Washington
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