Description
Railroad Transport Technology and Safety Specialist is a Civil Engineering graduate with distinction in 1980, he received a Master’s Degree in Structural Dynamics in 1983, and a PhD in Engineering Mechanics in 1986 from the University of Delaware.
In 1987 he joined the Association of American Railroads (AAR), where he pioneered methods of modeling and measuring the dynamic behavior of railroad tracks. His published work earned the 1989 American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Rail Transportation Award.
While at AAR, he worked on vehicle/track interaction, in-train stability, and the development of load measuring wheels and became senior manager of their railroad track division and their track assessment and test programs.
In 1995 he joined the US Department of Transportation, as a senior manager in the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development.
In 1997, he chaired a government-industry group that formulated the first set of track and vehicle/track interaction safety standards for high-speed rail service in the U.S. He later worked jointly with other FRA colleagues, Amtrak, Bombardier and Alstom to ensure the safe qualification of the Acela high-speed train service on the Northeast Corridor.
In 1998 he became the chief of track and infrastructure research where he led FRA’s track inspection technology development program, which contributed significantly to the development of improved systems for measuring and assessing track geometry and integrity at high speeds.
In 2004 he was appointed National Resource to FRA’s Office of Railroad Development.
In 2007 he was appointed Director of FRA’s Office of Research and Development.
In 2010, he was appointed Associate Administrator in the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) hazardous materials transportation safety program.
In 2016 he retired from public service and is now an independent consultant in the general rail transportation field.
Academic Background
- University of Delaware – Doctor of Philosophy, Civil engineering / Engineering Mechanics
- University of Delaware – Master of Science Civil Engineering, 1983
- Kuwait University – Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 1980
Professional Experience
- 2020 – Present, RTI Group, LLC. Railroad Hazardous Materials and Safety Specialist
- 2021 – Present, University of Maryland, Associate Director of Rail Transportation Technology and Safety
- 2016 – Present, Independent Rail Transportation Consulting
- 2009-2016 – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Associate Administrator: Hazardous Materials Safety
- 1995-2009 – Federal Railroad Administration, Director Office of Research and Development
- 1987-1995 – Association of American Railroads, Railroad Track Dynamics Manager