FHWA Works: Employee Spotlight - Travis Thomas

Full Name: Travis Thomas
Title: Lead IT Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Information Technology Service/Office of Administration (HAD)
Location: Washington, DC

1. What is your current position and how long have you been in this role?
   I am currently the IT Customer Support and Services Team Lead for the Office of Information Technology Services (OITS). I have been in my current role for 3 years and 7 months.

2. What is your typical workday like?
   A typical work day for me involves responding to FHWA customer-related IT issues and requirements. The customer issues range from anything related to help desk support, mobile device support, or general questions on how to utilize technology that is currently available to the agency to help FHWA employees do their jobs. In addition to working with FHWA employees on IT-related issues and requirements, I also work closely with the Department of Transportation’s Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO) on new technology or IT services that are deployed to the department and impact FHWA employees.

3. What has been your biggest accomplishment over the last year?
   My biggest accomplishment over the last year was receiving a FHWA Corporate Award along with my team for our efforts supporting a major security incident that affected over 200 computers throughout the agency. Our team worked diligently to mitigate the vulnerability on all of the affected computers and we also helped prevent the spread of additional viruses to the rest of the agency.

4. Prior to working at FHWA, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?
   While in college I worked as a telemarketer for MCI soliciting the sale of long distance lines to consumers. Needless to say I found it strange calling people right before they were about to eat dinner, trying to sell them long distance service. This job ultimately prepared me for my current career in IT customer service. I enjoyed my telemarketing experience even when I got the phone hung up on me at least 5-10 times a day.

5. What are your hobbies in your spare time?
   I enjoy watching and playing sports, particularly football. I currently serve as a youth football head coach for the Southern Maryland Hawks Organization. When I’m not doing sports, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family.

6. What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned in your career to get you where you are today?
   One of the biggest lessons I have learned in my career is to build good relationships throughout the agency. FHWA is a great place to work and I work with almost everyone in the agency in my current role. Doing a good job and helping people do their jobs more effectively and efficiently gives me satisfaction in knowing I’m making a difference in the agency.

7. Complete this sentence: "People would be surprised if they knew..."
   I once completed a mile swim over Lake Merriweather in Goshen VA while attending a Boy Scouts camping trip.