Marston to retire at the end of the year

RICHMOND - The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will have a new Bristol district administrator this fall. VDOT Commissioner Philip A. Shucet named VDOT veteran James S. Givens to the position. Givens will replace Daniel H. Marston, who has led the Bristol district since 1995.

Givens, currently director of the local assistance division for VDOT’s central office in Richmond, will begin his new post in Bristol on Oct. 1, 2003. At that time, Marston will leave his position as Bristol district administrator and take on special assignments with VDOT until his retirement in December 2003.

“While Marston serves the Bristol district with excellence, Givens will continue to bring solid leadership and a wealth of experience to the position,” said Shucet.

Givens will direct VDOT’s transportation program in the Bristol district, which covers a 12-county area, including the cities of Bristol and Norton. Givens’ key responsibilities will include managing the district’s $205 million budget, 7,400-mile highway network and a workforce of approximately 1,070 employees.

“Given my VDOT background of 37 years and my roots in southwestern Virginia, I love working with rural areas and look forward to expanding the relationship I have with rural and urban communities throughout the Bristol district,” said Givens.

A southwestern Virginia native from Lebanon, Givens graduated from Emory and Henry College and joined VDOT as a right-of-way agent in 1965. He was promoted to state right-of-way program coordinator and served on special assignment in VDOT’s management services division. He became assistant budget officer in 1983, and state secondary roads engineer in 1992. Givens has been director of the recently organized local assistance division since 2002. His current office provides information and guidance on a wide range of special funding programs for transportation projects to local governments across the state. Givens has represented VDOT before legislative committees and has served as the principle liaison with the Virginia Association of Counties for the last 10 years

Marston, who joined VDOT in 1961, will complete his VDOT career by using his expertise and leadership to assist other districts and residencies to operate more efficiently.

Page last modified: Aug. 5, 2003