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James E. Roberts, Chief Deputy Director, Engineering and Operations, is a 46-year veteran of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), with a comprehensive background in Planning; Budgeting; Design; Construction; Administration; Equipment Acquisition, Maintenance and Management; Major Project Management and Large Statewide Program Management. Most of that experience has been in supervision and management positions, carrying responsibility for some of the Department's major programs. He has been the Principal in Charge of the $4.2 billion Bridge Seismic Retrofit Strengthening Program and has implemented a comprehensive "problem focused" research program in support of seismic design and retrofit for California's 12,000 State Highway bridges.
He manages a staff of over 1700 Professional Engineers, Architects and support staff, and 600 consultants who design and deliver an annual structures construction program exceeding $650 million and manages the Caltrans' 12,000 bridges and 5,000 miscellaneous structures. His units also provide the Office Engineering staff for Advertising and Bid processing of the Department's Capital Construction Program totaling over $2 billion annually. In addition, the Engineering Technology Branch provides the CADD support and Geometronics support for the Department. The Materials Testing and Engineering Office and the Structural Foundations Office round out the Engineering Services provided by his staff in support of the Department's 12 Highway Districts. He is also responsible for the Project Development and Maintenance and Operations Deputy Directors.
Roberts received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California (Berkeley) in 1953 and a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1966. Following college, Roberts spent two years on Active Duty with the Corps of Engineers in Korea. He has completed 33 years as a Reserve Officer, retiring with the rank of Colonel.
Roberts has conducted research in bridge technology, written and published several technical papers on Bridge Design and Maintenance (especially Seismic Design and Retrofit), and delivered hundreds of professional talks on various phases of Bridge and Transportation Engineering to audiences ranging from professional societies to civic groups.
He is an active member of many Technical and Professional organizations, such as ACI, ASCE, SEAOC, TRB, and IABSE and currently chairs three technical committes of the AASHTO Sub-Committee for Bridges and Structures. Roberts chaired the AASHTO-AGC-ARTBA Task Force 32 which produced the Manual for Corrosion Protection of Concrete Bridges, a handbook for bridge managers and owners, published in 1993. He has received many professional awards for his achievements in bridge engineering and engineering management, and was inducted into the National Academy of Engineers in February 1996. He was the 1997 Golden Beaver Award recipient for engineering.
Last updated February 22, 1999
