The director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute the last ten years is stepping down.
Dennis Christiansen, who has been affiliated with the institute for 45 years, received a resolution at the recent board of regents meeting.
While thanking the regents, Dr. Christiansen also endorsed the board’s selection as the sole finalist as his successor.
Final action will take place next month on hiring an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Gregory Winfree, as the new TTI director.
Click below to hear the resolution, read by A&M system vice chancellor Katherine Banks and the response from Dennis Christiansen:
Click HERE to read and download the Board of Regents resolution to Dennis Christiansen.
Additional information from TTI:
TTI Agency Director Dennis L. Christiansen was presented a resolution in honor of his 45 years of service to TTI, including 10 years as agency director, at the November 10 meeting of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
The resolution recognized the significant growth of TTI’s research program and reputation under his leadership.
The resolution stated that during his tenure as agency director, TTI research expenditures increased by 60 percent; the total operating budget increased by 52 percent; and TTI’s intellectual property portfolio generated more than $76 million in gross royalties.
The resolution also noted Christiansen’s emphasis on research diversification, the creation of new research programs and products, and the expansion of TTI’s offices and research facilities during his leadership, among other accomplishments.
Christiansen thanked Chancellor John Sharp and Board members for their support of him and of TTI, saying that the agency is in a strong position to move forward under new leadership.
More information about the sole finalist for the TTI executive director position from the A&M System:
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday confirmed Gregory D. Winfree, Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation, as the sole finalist for the position of director for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).
Winfree would replace Dennis L. Christiansen, P.E., Ph.D., who is stepping down after 10 years as TTI Director and 45 years of service at the Institute. Under state law, governing boards must name finalists at least 21 days before making an official appointment. The Board of Regents will meet again to consider the final appointment.
Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp thanked Dr. Christiansen for his years of service to TTI and his dedication to transportation issues. He also welcomed Mr. Winfree to the A&M community.
“Gregory Winfree’s background in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, disciplines will serve TTI well,” Chancellor Sharp said. “We are lucky to get another exceptional and innovative mind on the team at TTI.”
Winfree, an avid motorcycle rider who has cruised U.S. highways from coast to coast on many occasions, joined the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology in March 2010 and was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary on January 23, 2014. During his tenure, Winfree has served as Chief Counsel, Deputy Administrator, and Administrator of the predecessor agency, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).
Prior to his USDOT appointments, Winfree served as Litigation Counsel for several Fortune 500 corporations operating in a number of technical industries. Prior to his in-house corporate legal work, Winfree was a Trial Attorney in the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. He started his legal career as an Associate at a prominent Washington, D.C.-based law firm.
Winfree earned a B.S. degree from St. John’s University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.
