SCOTT AFB, IL -- Jamie Todt, a civil engineer at the Transportation Engineering Agency, leverages her passion for math and science to drive progress in transportation engineering.
"I've always been interested in understanding how things work," she says. "In school, math and science classes were my favorite, and I found that engineering would allow me to feed my curiosity."
From Feb. 18-23, National Engineers Week highlights the importance of engineers in shaping the nation's infrastructure. Todt is one of many within TEA who innovate and secure methods of transportation ensuring the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command’s mission to deliver military equipment and supplies. With a background in civil engineering and experience in both the private and government sectors, she developed a unique understanding of the complex issues surrounding highway transportation infrastructure.
“The DoD does not own or maintain our nation’s highways,” said Doug Briggs, TEA’s chief of Highways for National Defense and Todt’s supervisor. “We rely heavily upon our federal and state partners to ensure the highways meet the needs of the military. Jamie Todt exhibited a great deal of experience in both design and construction of roadways while working in the private sector. Having that experience enables her to engage with the State Departments of Transportation at any level, which is an asset that allows our program to achieve our goals and overcome challenges for the military.“
Todt’s interest in traffic engineering was sparked by a project she was assigned to while working in the private sector where she installed traffic counting equipment on roadways in Illinois.
“It was gratifying to see how these counts were used to track travel patterns and determine commuter trends," she said. This experience led her to pursue a career in traffic engineering, and she eventually transitioned from the private sector to her current role at TEA working in the Highways for National Defense Branch.
Todt works with the civilian highway sectors to integrate DoD deployment requirements into planning and executing relevant programs. Her key responsibilities include maintaining the Strategic Highway Network, which involves coordinating with military installations, state Defense Movement Coordinators, and highway agencies to prioritize and fund critical highway routes that support DoD deployments. She also identifies critical roadways necessary to support DoD movements, participates in route studies to ensure deployment capabilities, and notifies state departments of any highway deficiencies.
One of Todt’s notable projects involved working on Power Projection Platform route studies, which took her to Fort Riley, KS. She also worked on a transportation access assessment on Guam in support of the Missile Defense Agency, where she analyzed transportation routes and infrastructure.
"I found it interesting to learn about the unique challenges of designing roads on the island, such as using coral instead of limestone aggregate for roadbed construction," she says.
Todt collaborates with her team and other stakeholders to achieve project goals, using a brainstorming approach to share ideas and seek feedback.
"I think it's essential to get input from others, even when I think I have a sound product," she says. "It always leads to a better outcome."
Todt believes that one of the critical issues facing the transportation engineering field today is the lack of engineers to support the maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure.
“Engineers are stereotyped into being analytical in nature,” she said. “But people might be surprised to know that I have a crafty side. I love to sew and just recently took up crocheting.”
Todt said she measures success in her role by being able to help others and knowing that she can be relied upon to get a job done or solve a problem. As a licensed engineer, she stays current with industry developments through professional development courses and engaging with engineering organizations.
As she reflects on her career, Todt offers words of wisdom to aspiring engineers.
"While engineering is not necessarily a glamorous position, the thing to keep in mind is, every day will be a new experience because not all projects are the same and you will always be learning about new and innovative ways to solve problems."
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