(L-R): Chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Richard A. Box, Gerald Ullman, Brooke Ullman, Board of Regents Vice Chairman Phil Adams.

Gerald Ullman, Texas A&M Transportation Institute senior research engineer and manager of the work zone and dynamic message sign research program, has been presented with a Regents Fellow Service Award, which is among the most prestigious honors bestowed by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The award was presented during ceremonies held at the Hagler Center on the Texas A&M campus January 30, 2013.  The award recognizes employees who have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the people of Texas.

“I am both honored and humbled to be recognized by the Board and Regents and the Chancellor in this manner,” said Ullman. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to work with many outstanding colleagues over my career, and feel this award is a reflection and recognition of all their efforts and support as much anything I have done. I am very grateful to TTI and to the A&M System for the many opportunities I have been afforded.”

Ullman is a nationally recognized expert who has made significant contributions in work zone mobility and safety research for 28 years, beginning his career at TTI as a graduate student in 1984. He has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator for more than 50 different research projects totaling more than $11 million, and has brought significant recognition to both TTI and to The Texas A&M University System.

Ullman is the ninth TTI employee to receive the Regents Fellow Service Award.

With a 31-year career with TTI, Scullion is responsible for numerous pavement-related inventions, designs, procedures and software that have enhanced the safety and performance of highways. His innovations have saved lives and taxpayer dollars by extending pavement life and improving maintenance procedures for highways around the world.

For the last 16 years, Scullion has managed TTI’s Flexible Pavements Program. He worked his way up the ranks from his first position as a research associate in 1980. Among Scullion’s accomplishments:

• Ground Penetrating Radar — allows engineers to create profiles of highways at up to 70 mph to diagnose subsurface pavement problems.
• Pave-IR systems — mounted to the back of an asphalt paver, Pave-IR checks in real-time the temperature uniformity of new asphalt overlay and provides contractors with immediate feedback on potential quality problems.
• Structural design software (FPS 21) — The Texas DOT’s official flexible pavement design software, it is used by designers to calculate the required thickness of pavement layers to carry the anticipated traffic loads.
• Ultra-Thin Overlays — thin surfaces up to 40 percent thinner than their thicker counterparts, these new long life surfacing are being designed to decrease pavement noise, reduce splash and spray and increase safety.
• Stabilization Guidelines — new test procedures for permanently treating problematic Texas soils.

“Tom Scullion is widely recognized as a pioneer in the development of groundbreaking pavement engineering tools that are used throughout the world,” said TTI Agency Director Dennis Christiansen.  “He has made lifesaving and long-lasting contributions to society and is exceptionally deserving of this special recognition.”

Much of Scullion’s work focuses on the rapidly deteriorating roadway system and the limited resources agencies have to make necessary upgrades and repairs. The technologies he has developed are ideally suited for these challenges. As a recognized expert in his field, the Texas Department of Transportation has commissioned Scullion to conduct analysis of its interstate corridors and other major routes.