TDOT Chief Engineer Honored as Government Engineer of the Year

Nashville, Tenn. - Tennessee Department of Transportation Chief Engineer Paul Degges, P.E. was recently selected as the 2007 Government Engineer of the Year by the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers.  Degges accepted the award at a ceremony at the annual Engineers Banquet at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel on Friday, February 22. 

“Chief Engineer Degges is a tremendous asset to TDOT and I’m pleased to see him recognized for his achievements in the engineering field,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.  “We are proud of the work Paul does for this department and share the Society’s gratitude for his service.”

The youngest individual to ever hold the position of Chief Engineer, Degges has overseen the awarding of more than 1,500 projects with a construction value of more than $2.6 billion.

With decreasing federal and state revenues and increasing construction costs, he has steered TDOT’s activities successfully over the past four years with the department’s roadways continuously rated in the top five nationally by Overdrive magazine.
 
Degges began his career with TDOT immediately following his graduation from Tennessee Technological University in 1988.  During his time with TDOT he has served as Assistant Chief Engineer, Region III Director, Region III Assistant Director, Assistant Director of Construction for Region IV, and supervisor in the Hydraulic Design and Permitting section of TDOT’s Structures Division.

The Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers is a professional association with more than 1,100 individual members including professional (licensed) engineers, engineering associates, engineering interns, and engineering students. TSPE members represent all technical disciplines and all practice areas including construction, education, industry, government, and private practice.

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TDOT Communications Office
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