FHWA Works: Employee Spotlight - 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.