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FHWA Works: Careers in Motion

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Road sign: CAREERS AHEAD

Welcome to the "FHWA Works: Careers in Motion Employee Spotlight" series, a look into the careers and lives of Federal Highway Administration employees. Each month, we will introduce you to one of nearly 3,000 FHWA colleagues and highlight the important work they do. Our employees come from all corners of the agency but all offer the same, yet unique sense of dedication and professionalism, all while keeping America's roads and bridges safe.

Check out whose career is in motion and how #FHWAWorks! Discover exactly why our agency is consistently highly ranked as one of the "Best Places to Work in Federal Government!"

To learn more about how FHWA Works, explore the video series on YouTube or FHWA's LinkedIn page.


FHWA Works: Employee Spotlight - Morgan L. Kessler, PE

Photo of Morgan L. Kessler, PE

Full Name: Morgan L. Kessler, PE
Title: Research Civil Engineer
Division/Department: Research, Development, and Technology–Infrastructure Office
Location (City/State): McLean, VA

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

    I have been with FHWA in my current role for about eight years. I'd say transportation engineering chose me, since from an early age my interests, activities, and employment have seemed to revolve—no pun intended—around building, engineering, and things "that go."

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

    The best part about my job, aside from working with cutting-edge subjects and collaborating with some of the best engineering minds in the nation, is the variety of topics I get to work on. From automated vehicles to culverts, advanced construction technologies to highway rest stops, my work at FHWA is under a "big tent."

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

    Finishing work always feels good, and I'd say one of the more significant accomplishments for the past year is the completion of the Automatic Vehicle Impacts to Infrastructure research project that culminated with the publication of a report, a technical brief, and three national webinars.

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

    Certainly qualifying for the unusual category, as a late teen I worked for a San Francisco music venue putting up promotional flyers and posters (likely, illegally!) on power poles, freeway supports, and walls, all late at night and under the cover of darkness, sometimes even using wallpaper adhesive!

  5. What are your hobbies in your spare time?

    I'm a builder by nature and training, and I find doing major and minor work to my friends', my family's, and my own homes definitely falls under the hobby category. I also enjoy car stuff including keeping my fleet of vehicles roadworthy. Some of my favorite activities include reading; hiking; backpacking and kayaking in the summer; and snowboarding in winter.

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

    Remember to stay hungry, stay humble, and not forget who I ultimately work for.

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

    I was union-trained as a drywall taper/finisher.

Other Employee Spotlights

Ben Graybeal Full Name: Ben Graybeal
Title: Team Leader, Bridge Engineering Research
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research, Development, and Technology
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Justin Henwood Full Name: Justin Henwood
Title: Project Manager
Division/Department: Central Federal Lands Highway Division
Location (City/State): Lakewood, CO
Dean Kall Full Name: David Kall
Title: Environmental Protection Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Natural Environment, Air Quality and Noise Team
Location (City/State): Washington, DC
Jean Landolt Full Name: Jean Landolt
Title: Program Coordinator
Division/Department: Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Walter During, PE Full Name: Walter During, PE
Title: Transportation Specialist
Division/Department: Headquarters – Office of Operations
Location (City/State):Washington, DC
Morgan L. Kessler Full Name: Morgan L. Kessler
Title: Research Civil Engineer
Division/Department: Research, Development, and Technology–Infrastructure Office
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Vontra Giles Full Name: Vontra Giles
Title: Community Planner
Division/Department: FHWA Alabama Division
Location (City/State): Montgomery, AL
Ana Maria Eigen Full Name: Ana Maria Eigen, D.Sc.
Title: Research Highway Safety Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Safety Research and Development
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Deborah Walker Full Name: Deborah Walker
Title: Research Civil Engineer
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Location (City/State): McLean, Virginia

Carol H. Tan, Ph.D. Full Name: Carol H. Tan, Ph.D.
Title:Team Leader, Safety Data & Analysis
Division/Department: Office of Safety Research and Development
Location: McLean, VA
David Mensching Full Name: David Mensching, Ph.D., P.E.
Title: Asphalt Materials Research Program Manager
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Hoda Azari, PH.D. Full Name: Hoda Azari, PH.D.
Title: Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Research Program Manager
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Location: McLean, VA
Jeremy Raw Full Name: Jeremy Raw
Title: Community Planner
Division/Department: Systems Planning and Analysis Team, Office of Planning
Location: Washington, DC
Stephanie Stoermer Full Name: Joi Singh
Title: Realty Specialist
Division/Department:Office of Real Estate Services
Location: Washington, DC
Stephanie Stoermer Full Name: Stephanie Stoermer
Title: Environmental Program Specialist/Archaeologist
Division/Department: Environment, Air Quality & Realty Technical Services Team, Resource Center
Justin Ocel Full Name: Justin Ocel
Title: Civil Engineer
Division/Department: Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center - Office of Infrastructure RD&T
Location: McLean, VA
MaryAnn Carpenter Full Name: MaryAnn Carpenter
Title: Transportation Specialist/International Liaison
Division/Department: Federal Highway Administration
Location: Washington, DC
Melinda Urban Full Name: Melinda Urban
Title: Senior Area Engineer
Division/Department: FHWA Colorado Division
Location: Lakewood, CO
Monica Jurado Full Name: Monica Jurado
Title: Pavements and Materials Engineer
Division/Department: FHWA Resource Center
Location: El Paso, TX
Al-Hasan Rashida Full Name: Al-Hasan Rashida
Title: Multimedia Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Management Services
Location: Washington, DC
Neil Gaffney Full Name: Neil Gaffney
Title: Public Affairs Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Public Affairs
Location: Washington, DC
Susie Tingler Full Name: Susie Tingler
Title: Management Assistant
Division/Department: Director of Field Services
Location: Baltimore, MD
Christopher Douwes Full Name: Christopher Douwes
Title: Community Planner; commonly known as the Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program Manager
Division/Department: Office of Human Environment
Location: Washington, DC
Rebecca T. Crowe Full Name: Rebecca T. Crowe (Becky)
Title: Transportation Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Safety
Location: ADL- Virginia Division; Richmond, VA
Jihan Kamel Noizet Full Name: Jihan Kamel Noizet
Title: Transportation Specialist
Division/Department: Office of International Programs
Location: Washington, DC
Todd Kohr Full Name: Todd Kohr
Title: Legislative Analysis Team Leader
Division/Department: Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs
Location: Washington, DC
Agnes Vélez Full Name: Agnes R. Vélez
Title: Transportation Specialist
Division/Department: Office of International Programs
Location: Washington, DC
Kelly Keele Full Name: Kelly Keele, P.E.
Title: Highway Design Manager
Division/Department: Central Federal Lands (CFL) Highway Division
Location: Lakewood, CO
Photo of Thao Truong, P.E. Full Name: Thao Truong, P.E.
Title: Highway Designer
Division/Department: Western Federal Lands Highway Division
Location (City/State): Vancouver, WA
Photo of Terry Schumann Full Name: Terry Schumann
Title: Environmental Protection Specialist
Division/Department: Federal Lands Highway, Office of Tribal Transportation
Location (City/State): Portland, OR
Photo of Hope Brooks Full Name: Hope Brooks
Title: Program Analyst
Division/Department: Office of Planning, Environment & Realty
Location (City/State): Washington, DC
Photo of Yan "Jane" Jiang Full Name: Yan "Jane" Jiang
Title:Senior Research Civil Engineer
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Photo of Karen M. Brunelle Full Name: Karen M. Brunelle
Title: Director, Office of Project Development
Division/Department: FHWA, Florida Division
Location (City/State): Tallahassee, FL
Photo of Zachary Haber, Ph.D. Full Name: Zachary Haber, Ph.D.
Title: Research Structural Engineer
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Location (City/State): McLean, VA

Photo of  Melonie Barrington Full Name: Melonie Barrington
Title: Training Program Manager
Division/Department: National Highway Institute
Location (City/State): Arlington, VA

Photo of  Gail Edwards Full Name: Gail Edwards
Title: Communications Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Public Affairs
Location: Washington, DC
Photo of Jean Nehme Full Name: Jean Nehme
Title: Team Leader
Division/Department: Office of Research, Technology, and Development
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Photo of Michelle Arnold, Ph.D. Full Name: Michelle Arnold, Ph.D.
Title: Research Transportation Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Safety, Research & Development
Location (City/State): McLean, VA
Photo of Abdul Zineddin, Ph.D. Full Name: Abdul Zineddin, Ph.D.
Title: Transportation Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Safety R&D
Location: McLean, VA
Photo of Taylor Lochrane Full Name: Taylor Lochrane
Title: Technical Manager
Division/Department: Office of Operation Research and Development
Location: McLean, VA
Photo of Dan Mathis Full Name: Dan Mathis
Title: Division Administrator
Division/Department: Washington Division
Location: Olympia, WA
Photo of Bruce Moody Full Name: Bruce Moody
Title: Program Management Analyst
Division/Department: Oregon and Washington Divisions
Location: Salem, OR
Photo of Joey Hartmann Full Name: Joey Hartmann
Title: Director of the Office of Bridges and Structures
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure
Location: Washington, DC
Photo of Doug Hecox Full Name: Doug Hecox
Title: Spokesman
Division/Department: Federal Highway Administration
Location: Washington, DC
Photo of Tome White Full Name: Tom White
Title: Social Media Coordinator
Division/Department: Office of Public Affairs
Location: Washington, DC
Photo of Norah Ocel Full Name: Norah M. Ocel, P.E.
Title: Transportation Operations Team Leader/Highway Safety Engineer
Division/Department: Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division
Location: Sterling, Virginia
Photo of LaToya Hines Full Name: LaToya Hines
Title: Staff Assistant to the FHWA Administrator
Division/Department: Office of the Administrator
Location: Washington, DC
Photo of Travis Thomas Full Name: Travis Thomas
Title: Lead IT Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Information Technology Service/Office of Administration (HAD)
Location: Washington, DC
Roger Ryder Full Name: Roger Ryder
Title: Senior Stewardship Advisor/Director of Operations [currently Territorial Program Manager]
Division/Department: FHWA Pennsylvania Division [currently FHWA PR & USVI Division]
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Jennifer Nicks Full Name: Jennifer Nicks, PhD, PE
Title: Research Geotechnical Engineer
Division/Department: Office of Infrastructure Research & Development (R&D)
Location: Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center,
McLean, Virginia
Trinette D. Ballard Full Name: Trinette D. Ballard
Title: Marketing and Communications Specialist
Division/Department: FHWA Florida Division
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Jaun C. Garcia Full Name: Juan C. Garcia
Title: Multimedia Specialist
Division/Department: Management Services/Office of Administration (HAD)
Location: Washington, DC
Photo of Kirsten Poston Full Name: Kirsten Poston
Title: Disability Policy Analyst
Division/Department: Office of Civil Rights
Location: Washington, DC
Cynthia L. Essenmacher Full Name: Cynthia L. Essenmacher
Title: Federal Tolling Program Manager
Division/Department: Headquarters – Office of Operations
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Maria Ousley Full Name: Maria Ousley
Title: Civil Engineer, Contracting Officer's Representative
Division/Department: Central Federal Lands
Location: Carson City, NV
  U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration - Careers in Motion  
Page last modified on September 10, 2021
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000