ITS Professional Capacity Building Program

Learning Testimonials

Bob Sheehan

Freeway Operations Engineer
Northern Region Operations, Smart Traffic Center (STC), Virginia DOT

Bob currently works as a Freeway Operations Engineer for the Virginia DOT's Northern Region Operations. In this role, he develops measures, strategies and systems to help improve freeway operations and safety and reduce congestion. In his previous position, Bob managed the field operations for VDOT's Smart Traffic Signal System in the state's Northern District. Prior to joining VDOT, Bob was Manager, Advanced Transportation Systems for ITS America, coordinating and supporting several technical committees and task forces. On a personal level, Bob is a cycling enthusiast engaged in local multi-modal and cycling activities.

What particular ITS challenges do you face in your job?

ITS is complex and constantly evolving. Since I'm involved at the operations end, I need to stay on top of changes in regulatory requirements, technologies, practices, and management tools.

What education and training in ITS have you had?

Before taking on my current job, I obtained a Master's in Civil Engineering, with a specialty in Advanced Transportation Systems, at Virginia Tech's Northern Virginia campus. I've also taken training courses offered by NHI, professional associations, and private contractors:

Virginia Tech	NHI	ITE	Associations & Contractors
Traffic Engineering I Traffic Engineering II Traffic Characteristics and Flow Transportation and Land Use Transit Design and Operations Analysis and Planning of Public Transit Systems Introduction to ITS Management of Information Systems Civil Infrastructure Systems and Analysis Highway Transportation Safety	Computer Traffic Signal System Training Course Introduction to Systems Engineering for Transportation Introduction to the National ITS Architecture Recommended Practices for Management and Operations of ITS ABC's of Asset Management and Transportation Managers and Professionals Configuration Management and Transportation Management Systems	ITS Standards Overview Center-to-Center Communications Dynamic Message Signs Actuated Traffic Signals	Traffic Signal Control: Fundamentals Synchro & SimTraffic: Tools for Traffic Signal Timing Analysis, Optimization, and Simulation Traffic Control Devices Design Managing Information Technology Projects

How has all this education and training been useful to you?

First of all, I couldn't do my current job without the education that I received at Virginia Tech. The courses gave me many of the skills I most needed ahead of time, and alerted me to new approaches to management. Actually, every single class I took has contributed directly to what I do now. Fundamentally, I benefit because classes teach you to think critically — how to define problems and incorporate the systems engineering model into project planning and management.