Dean C. Alberson, Ph.D., P.E.

Alberson, Dean

Assistant Agency Director
Research Engineer
Program Manager

Crashworthy Structures Program - Riverside 7091, Room 108
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 458-3874 Ext. 83874 · fax (979) 845-6107
d-alberson@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Dr. Dean C. Alberson is an Assistant Agency Director assisting divisions in the pursuit of new research initiatives. He is also a research engineer and program manager of the Crashworthy Structures Program. He obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering Structures at Texas A&M University. His career with TTI began in 1992. Since that time, he has actively been involved in the full-scale testing and evaluation of numerous highway safety features. Dr. Alberson works closely with manufacturers in the support of existing products by helping them improve their products, expand product lines, and develop new products. These products include, but are not limited to, w-beam guardrail, cable guardrail, guardrail terminals, crash cushions and breakaway sign supports. These tasks are accomplished through computer modeling, prototype tests, and hundreds of full-scale crash tests. He is also active in the development of new innovative products and subsequent partnering with industry to bring these new products to market. Dr. Alberson is a registered professional engineer.

Events of September 11 have increased the awareness of terrorist vulnerability in many facilities within the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Alberson has served as the principal investigator on numerous projects for the U.S. Department of State, Department of Homeland Security (SBI Net), Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) in conjunction with Sandia National Labs and others involving the full-scale crash testing of anti-ram and anti-terrorist perimeter barriers, fences and gates. He also served as the chairman of the ASTM F12.10 committee in the development of the ASTM F2656-07 "Standard Test Method for Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers". He also serves as the liaison to the International Working Agreement to develop the international physical security crash test standard. Dr. Alberson has personally been involved in the testing of over 100 security and anti-terror/anti-ram devices.

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2000.
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1985.
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1984.

Experience

  • Assistant Agency Director, TTI Administration, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, December 2006 - Present.
  • Research Engineer, Crashworthy Structures Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, September 2006 - Present.
  • Program Manager, Crashworthy Structures Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, February 2000 - Present.
  • Partner/Engineer, Safety Quest, Inc., Bryan, Texas, May 1996 - Present.
  • Associate Research Engineer, Crashworthy Structures Program, Texas Transportation Institute, February 2000 - August 2006.
  • Program Manager, Safety Division, Engineering Factors Program, Texas Transportation Institute, February 1993 - July 1996.
  • Assistant Research Engineer, Safety Division, Texas Transportation Institute, August 1992 - July 1996.
  • Vice President/Engineer, Evans & Associates, Inc., Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1988 - 1992.
  • Accident Analyst, Evans & Associates, Inc., Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1983 - 1988.
  • Graduate/Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
  • Computer Operator, Physical Science Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1982 - 1984.

Professional Registration

Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 74891.

Affiliations

  • Chairman, American Society for Testing and Materials, WK 2534, Standard Test Method for Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers and Gates.
  • Committee Member, American Society for Testing and Materials, F12.10, Security Systems and Equipment, Systems Products and Services, 2004 - Present.
  • Member, Chi Epsilon - The National Civil Engineering Honor Society, Civil Engineering Honor Fraternity.
  • Member, Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honor Fraternity.
  • Member, Society of Automotive Engineers.
  • Research Affiliate, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Task Force 13 Committee for Highway Safety.
  • Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Honors & Awards

K.B. Woods Award, Transportation Research Board (TRB), 2007, for the paper, Low-Deflection Portable Concrete Barrier.

Best Paper Award, Transportation Research Board, Committee AFB20 (Roadside Safety Design), 2007, for the paper, Low-Deflection Portable Concrete Barrier.

Researcher Award, TTI/Trinity Industries, 2004.

Best Paper Award, Transportation Research Board, Committee A2A04, 2003, for the paper, A Review of Cable/Wire Rope Barrier Design Considerations.

Academic Courses Taught

Soil Mechanics Laboratory. New Mexico State University, 1985.

Short Courses Taught

Cable Barrier - State of the Practice. American Traffic Safety Services Association. College Station, TX, June 24, 2008.

Selected Publications

D.R. Arrington, D.C. Alberson, W.L. Menges. Development of Field Applied Fittings for Wire Rope Bridge Barrier and Conversion to High tension. 405160-11-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. August 2010.

S.A. Cooner, Y.K. Rathod, D.C. Alberson, R.P. Bligh, S.E. Ranft, D. Sun. Development of Guidelines for Cable Median Barrier Systems in Texas. 0-5609-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. December 2009.

S.A. Cooner, Y.K. Rathod, D.C. Alberson, R.P. Bligh, S.E. Ranft, D. Sun. Performance Evaluation of Cable Median Barrier Systems in Texas. 0-5609-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. August 2009.