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CO-0412 March 10, 2004 |
VDOT ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS FOR SALEM AND CULPEPER DISTRICTS
RICHMOND - The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced today new district administrators to lead the agency’s transportation program in the Salem and Culpeper regions. The Salem District will be led by Richard L. Caywood, P.E., who has served as resident engineer of the Petersburg Residency. The Culpeper District will be led by Morteza Salehi, who has been assistant district administrator in Northern Virginia.
“After an extensive and competitive search, we found two strong leaders within the department who are ready for the challenges and opportunities to lead the Salem and Culpeper districts,” said VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet.
Salem District Administrator:
As Salem’s district administrator, Caywood will oversee road maintenance, construction and operations for a region of southwest Virginia that includes more than 9,200 miles of roadway. The 12-county transportation district includes the Roanoke and New River valleys, as well as the Martinsville and Hillsville areas. Caywood also will serve as an executive level manager for about 1,000 VDOT employees.
Caywood replaces Fred C. Altizer, Jr., P.E., who became Interstate 81 program manager and assistant to VDOT’s chief engineer in Sept. 2003.
Caywood has served as Petersburg resident engineer for the past four years, managing the preliminary engineering, construction, land development and maintenance programs of the residency. He has worked on the development of the secondary six-year plan and the primary, interstate and urban six-year plan for Prince George and Dinwiddie counties. Among the completed construction projects is the $30 million crossing over the Appomattox River between Colonial Heights and Petersburg.
From 1997 until 2000, Caywood was assistant resident engineer in Charlottesville, where he managed the preliminary engineering and construction programs. Earlier he was an engineer in the Salem District, serving as project engineer and developing six-year plans. He was an engineer trainee, from 1992 to 1996, in the Salem and Richmond districts. His first job with VDOT was as a summertime construction inspector. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia.
Culpeper District Administrator:
As Culpeper’s district administrator, Salehi will oversee VDOT’s transportation program for a nine-county region that extends from Fauquier County to Albemarle County. The district covers nearly 4,560 of roadway and employs about 700 people.
Salehi replaces Robert E. Moore, who has served as acting district administrator. Moore will return to his role as district maintenance engineer.
Salehi has been Northern Virginia’s assistant district administrator for maintenance and operations since 1998. In the preceding four years, he was assistant administrator for maintenance. He joined VDOT, and the Northern Virginia District, as a senior engineer in 1989. From 1985 until 1989, Salehi worked in the private sector. From 1981 until 1985, he was a research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Before immigrating to the United States, Salehi worked for the government of Iran. He took a leading role in the coordination and development of Iran’s transportation programs. Earlier he was an associate professor of civil engineering at Tehran University. Salehi holds a doctorate in transportation engineering and a master’s degree in highway and traffic engineering from the University of Birmingham, England, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Tehran Polytechnic Institute.
Both district administrators will begin their work on March 25.
“After an extensive and competitive search, we found two strong leaders within the department who are ready for the challenges and opportunities to lead the Salem and Culpeper districts,” said VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet.
Salem District Administrator:
As Salem’s district administrator, Caywood will oversee road maintenance, construction and operations for a region of southwest Virginia that includes more than 9,200 miles of roadway. The 12-county transportation district includes the Roanoke and New River valleys, as well as the Martinsville and Hillsville areas. Caywood also will serve as an executive level manager for about 1,000 VDOT employees.
Caywood replaces Fred C. Altizer, Jr., P.E., who became Interstate 81 program manager and assistant to VDOT’s chief engineer in Sept. 2003.
Caywood has served as Petersburg resident engineer for the past four years, managing the preliminary engineering, construction, land development and maintenance programs of the residency. He has worked on the development of the secondary six-year plan and the primary, interstate and urban six-year plan for Prince George and Dinwiddie counties. Among the completed construction projects is the $30 million crossing over the Appomattox River between Colonial Heights and Petersburg.
From 1997 until 2000, Caywood was assistant resident engineer in Charlottesville, where he managed the preliminary engineering and construction programs. Earlier he was an engineer in the Salem District, serving as project engineer and developing six-year plans. He was an engineer trainee, from 1992 to 1996, in the Salem and Richmond districts. His first job with VDOT was as a summertime construction inspector. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia.
Culpeper District Administrator:
As Culpeper’s district administrator, Salehi will oversee VDOT’s transportation program for a nine-county region that extends from Fauquier County to Albemarle County. The district covers nearly 4,560 of roadway and employs about 700 people.
Salehi replaces Robert E. Moore, who has served as acting district administrator. Moore will return to his role as district maintenance engineer.
Salehi has been Northern Virginia’s assistant district administrator for maintenance and operations since 1998. In the preceding four years, he was assistant administrator for maintenance. He joined VDOT, and the Northern Virginia District, as a senior engineer in 1989. From 1985 until 1989, Salehi worked in the private sector. From 1981 until 1985, he was a research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Before immigrating to the United States, Salehi worked for the government of Iran. He took a leading role in the coordination and development of Iran’s transportation programs. Earlier he was an associate professor of civil engineering at Tehran University. Salehi holds a doctorate in transportation engineering and a master’s degree in highway and traffic engineering from the University of Birmingham, England, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Tehran Polytechnic Institute.
Both district administrators will begin their work on March 25.
Page last modified: March 10, 2004
