Cathy Nelson began working with the Oregon Department of Transportation as a summer intern in 1980 and is currently the ODOT State Highway Engineer, the first woman to hold this position. She has responsibility for the 7,500 miles of highways and 2,680 bridges in the state system and will oversee the $2.5 billion construction package approved by the 2003 Oregon Legislature, the largest public works effort in Oregon since the construction of the Interstate system in the 1950s and 1960s. Projects will include the rebuilding of 365 bridges. During her career at ODOT, Nelson has also served as a structural engineer in the bridge engineering group, Value Engineering Manager, and as the manager of the structural engineering group. She is a registered professional engineer.
Degrees
- B.S. Civil Engineering, 1982