FHWA Works: Employee Spotlight - Deborah Walker

Full Name: Deborah Walker
Title: Research Civil Engineer
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Location (City/State): McLean, Virginia

1. How long have you been in your role and how did you choose this transportation field?

   I have worked in the Office of Infrastructure Research and Development since 2002. Prior to working for FHWA, I worked for the Texas DOT and one of my collateral duties was serving as the primary contact for the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program activities in Texas. As the LTPP State Coordinator, I was responsible for keeping TxDOT’s 25 district offices informed about the LTPP program activities at both the State and national levels. This included the data collection activities for nearly 91 pavement test sections in Texas and applying LTPP products in the State, where appropriate. Serving as the coordinator helped me to develop key relationships with the FHWA LTPP Program staff. In a cooperative agreement between FHWA and TxDOT, I was selected as a loaned staff member from 1994-1996. I had the privilege of working alongside the FHWA staff to help in their daily operations. This 2-year assignment helped me to understand what was needed by the States to better help the program run smoothly and efficiently at the national level. In 2002, I joined FHWA’s LTPP Team as a permanent employee. My experience as a State employee coupled with my understanding of the program at the national level, gave me a unique perspective for furthering the LTPP program.

2. What do you find interesting about your job and what do you do on daily basis?

   I enjoy working with the States and helping them gain a better understanding of the LTPP program and why their active participation is important to the program’s success. There are days when I may have to work with States to answer their questions about data collection research being done on their highways by our contractors. Since this program has been around longer than many of our State contacts, some may not be aware of what is needed and why. I also manage the pavement performance and traffic data collection activities, so I determine (in collaboration with our contractors on some occasions) which test sections require evaluation. I also work with members of my team to write various outreach materials that are shared with our State and industry partners, and occasionally provide customer support for traffic data requests. In other words, no two days are the same. It simply depends on what is most pressing for the program.

3. What has been your biggest accomplishment over the last year?

   I am extremely pleased with the outreach services I provided to our internal and external partners this past year. I had a very active year working with many people to inform them about Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program’s new web portal, LTBP InfoBridge™. I developed new relationships with people I can now depend on to support the LTBP program (in addition to those for the LTPP program). I am most proud that that I took the time to publicly acknowledge people who supported the LTPP and LTBP programs this past year, and to recognize colleagues who have done exceptional work to management.

4. Prior to working at FHWA, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?

   I once worked as a job coordinator. I had to visit different job sites throughout Philadelphia to check on employees and talk with their supervisor about the employees’ performance. There were occasions where I had to talk to the employees to correct some things and to find out what the underlying issues were. In almost all of the cases, the employee’s behavior changed and the employee corrected the issue by my next site visit. Traveling across the city took me to different areas and gave me a wider perspective of the city I grew up in.

5. What are your hobbies in your spare time?

   I love gardening. I developed this love several years ago when I realized that all I did was take care of my three beautiful children! I knew I had to do something just for me and so I started learning about plants and worked on my home’s curb appeal. There’s nothing like digging in the soil with bare hands and feeling the earth. I love seeing my neighbors walk past and admire my yard. In fact, one family told me that they purposely walk past my house because they enjoy looking at how pretty my garden is. Like taking care of my children, it’s a labor of love where I get to experience a great sense of satisfaction, especially when others get to enjoy it, too.

   I also like walking and occasionally lifting weights with my son.

6. What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned in your career to get you where you are today?

   Being persistent and treating others with respect no matter what position they hold.

7. Who do you admire in the transportation field and why?

   Mr. Bobbie Templeton. He was a mentor and excellent role model of stewardship and how government employees should manage the People’s money. During our time together--whether at a conference or over lunch--he would always ask me, “Debbie are you using the taxpayers’ money wisely?” He instilled this thought in me early in my career and 28 years later, I still ask myself this question before I take an action or make a decision. Mr. Templeton was part of TxDOT’s senior leadership team who kept engineering as the primary focus for the department’s success with a commitment to invest in the department’s young engineers. He was part of building the foundation for my career not by telling me what I should do, but by giving me the tools and letting me know of his confidence in my ability to achieve and do great things for the American people.

8. Complete this sentence: "People would be surprised if they knew..."

   I wanted to be a model when I was a little girl. I took modeling classes but did not pursue it because at that time having models under 5 feet was rare. However, years later I competed in a petite modeling contest in Dallas, Texas and missed making it to the finals by 1 point! My husband remarked that I was a different person when I strutted across the stage and his friend could not believe that was me. I remember being extremely nervous (even talking about it now brings back the nervousness), but it was one of the most exciting things I ever did.