Katie Turnbull, executive associate director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), was appointed vice chair of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Executive Committee, effective Jan. 12. The prestigious one-year appointment is the culmination of three decades of involvement in TRB for Turnbull, who has served the organization in numerous capacities since 1988.
“When you think about TTI’s participation in TRB, the first person you think of is Katie Turnbull,” said Gregory D. Winfree, TTI agency director. “She has served two dozen TRB councils and committees with distinction, and this appointment is a reflection of her dedication to improving transportation. Her proven leadership and long-time dedication will serve TRB and the nation’s transportation system very well.”
Established in 1920, TRB is one of seven program units of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. TRB’s mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research and information exchange, which is conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary and multimodal.
Turnbull’s appointment began immediately following the end of the 2017 TRB Annual Meeting, held in Washington D.C. Jan 8-12, and was attended by almost 14,000 transportation professionals from around the globe.
“It is a true honor to be named vice chair of the TRB Executive Committee,” Turnbull said of the appointment. “Contributing to TRB throughout my career has been very rewarding, and I look forward to working with the other Executive Committee members, TRB staff and other groups in continuing to address critical transportation issues in and among all modes of transportation.”
In part, the TRB Executive Committee provides oversight of TRB’s activities and is responsible for evaluating proposed TRB projects.
In addition to her executive associate director responsibilities at TTI, Turnbull is also an executive professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. She maintains a diverse research portfolio, leads numerous TTI initiatives, and manages TTI’s Environment and Planning Research Group.