Dennis G. Perkinson, Ph.D.

Perkinson, Dennis

Program Manager

Transportation Modeling Program - Gilchrist, Room 374
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 862-4926 Ext. 24926 · fax (979) 845-7548
d-perkinson@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Dr. Perkinson is currently a Research Scientist and Program Manager of the Transportation Modeling Program with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) in College Station. This position is predicated on over thirty years of progressively responsible professional experience in the public and private sectors. His research interests currently focus on transportation air quality policy evaluation and compliance. Other interests include interdisciplinary approaches to transportation planning, travel data collection methods, organizational behavior, regulatory compliance, and the social impacts of transportation technology.

Prior to joining TTI, Perkinson was Director of Planning for VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio Texas. In that capacity, he was responsible for strategic service planning and analysis of capital investments for VIA's 500 vehicle fleet and 1,200 square mile service area. These responsibilities included federally mandated ADA paratransit planning and lift equipped bus deployment for VIA, as well as Federal Transit Administration required corridor analysis.

Before joining VIA in 1988, Perkinson was Managing Director of Transportation Programs at Stanford University. At Stanford he established and managed the first department dedicated entirely to transportation. This department was responsible for the design, funding, implementation and operation of University transportation programs, including the campus shuttle system, a commute alternatives program and parking construction planning.

As Manager of MIS Decision Support for the FMC Corporation, he implemented and managed a decision support function for the MIS department. This group was responsible for computer network forecasts, corporate computer network budget forecasts, and evaluation of productivity improving products and technologies.

From 1980 to 1984 Perkinson was with Amoco Corporation, where he provided decision support, forecasting and consultation company-wide in the Operations Research Department at corporate headquarters in Chicago and at Amoco's regional data center in Tulsa.

Prior to joining Amoco, Perkinson was responsible for the freight and aviation segments of the Chicago Area Transportation Study's regional master plan. From 1977 to 1980 Perkinson held a joint appointment with the Great Lakes Basin Commission and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this capacity he analyzed the economic, social and transportation impacts of proposed navigation improvements in the Great Lakes region.

In addition to his position at TTI, Dr. Perkinson is a member of the Graduate Faculty of Texas A&M University and holds an adjunct faculty appointment in the College Of Architecture's Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. Dr. Perkinson holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in sociology from the University of South Florida, an M.S. in transportation from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in urban and regional science from Texas A&M University. He has been a member of the Policy Studies Organization, as well as the Transportation Research Board and the Institute of Transportation Engineers. He is a member of the Society for the History of Technology.

Education

  • Ph.D., Urban And Regional Science, Texas A&M University, 1997.
  • M.S., Transportation, Northwestern University, 1977.
  • M.A., Sociology, University of South Florida, 1975.
  • B.A., Sociology, University of South Florida, 1974.

Experience

  • Program Manager, Transportation Modeling Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, September 2003 - Present.
  • Research Scientist, Transportation Planning, Texas Transportation Institute, January 2000 - August 2003.
  • Associate Research Scientist, Texas Transportation Institute, September 1997 - December 1999.
  • Assistant Research Scientist, Texas Transportation Institute, August 1993 - August 1997.
  • Director of Planning, VIA Metropolitan Transit, September 1988 - August 1993.
  • Managing Director, Transportation Programs, Stanford University, July 1985 - August 1988.
  • Manager, MIS Decision Support, Ordnance Division, FMC Corporation, July 1984 - July 1985.
  • Operations Research Analyst, AMOCO Corporation, September 1980 - July 1984.
  • Transportation Planner, Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), March 1980 - September 1980.
  • Transportation Planner, Great Lakes Basin Commission/US Army Corps of Engineers, August 1977 - March 1980.

Affiliations

  • Member, Society for the History of Technology, 1998 - Present.
  • Member, ITE MIS Case Studies Committee, 1996 - 1997.
  • Member, Policy Studies Organization, 1995 - 2000.
  • Member, ITE Transit Council, 1991 - 1997.
  • Board of Directors, Texas Parking Association, 1989 - 1991.
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), 1989 - 1997.
  • Member, ITE Transportation Planners Council, 1989 - 1997.
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Texas Section (TexITE), 1988 - 1997.
  • Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), 1984 - 1994.