2026 Outstanding Management and Engineering in Transportation Award Winners

Outstanding Management and Engineering Transportation Award Previous Winners COMING SOON

Karl Moskowitz Award

Melisa Wiedemeier
Senior Transportation Hydraulics Engineer
District 11, Engineering Division

Melisa Wiedemeier serves as the District Hydraulics Engineer in District 11, bringing nearly three decades of experience at Caltrans, including 23 years in hydraulics.

In her role, Melisa works with local agencies and community partners to address flooding and drainage challenges across the region. Over the course of her career, Melisa has contributed to efforts related to flood management, safety, wildfire impacts, water quality, and projects affecting underserved communities. She is known for her steady, collaborative approach and for helping advance practical, long-term solutions that respond to both current needs and evolving conditions, including those related to climate change. This extra effort ensures that the State is on top of current hydraulic needs, as well as anticipating future challenges.

Melisa earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University. In her spare time Melisa enjoys pursuing the arts and spending time with her family.

The Karl Moskowitz Award annually recognizes contributions by Caltrans registered engineers to the field of transportation engineering. Mr. Moskowitz served as a Caltrans traffic engineer for 27 years. Much of his work in freeway design and traffic flow appeared at the outset of the Interstate highway program and was used extensively by planners and engineers nationwide, thus becoming the national standard.

Charles H. Purcell Award

Divyesh Vora
Supervising Transportation Engineer
District 8, Division of Construction

Divyesh Vora has more than 23 years of experience in the transportation industry, delivering complex infrastructure projects across California. As an Area Construction Manager with Caltrans District 8, he leads multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of major capital programs, including large-scale pavement rehabilitation along the Interstate 10 corridor, one of Southern California’s most critical freight and mobility routes. His experience spans project management, design, construction, and materials engineering, providing a comprehensive perspective on project delivery and program management.

He has also demonstrated strong leadership during emergency response efforts, including the rapid restoration of State Route 38 following severe storm damage and critical repairs along Interstate 10 during monsoon events, restoring mobility and economic connectivity ahead of expectations.

The Charles H. Purcell Award recognizes valued contributions by Caltrans engineering managers to the field of transportation engineering and transportation program management. Mr. Purcell served as California’s State Highway Engineer from 1928 to 1943 and as Director of Public Works until 1951. He established California’s extraordinary record of leadership and integrity in transportation engineering and guided the construction of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge and the State Highway System.

Bimla G. Rhinehart Award

Susan Lindsay
Complete Streets Lead Advisor
HQ, Division of Complete Streets

Susan Lindsay serves as Caltrans' Lead Advisor on Complete Streets and is passionate about helping teams find ways to make transportation work better for everyone.

Over the past five years, Susan has spearheaded the department's implementation of Director's Policy 37 and helped to integrate Complete Streets work across Caltrans. Initially as the first Program Manager for Complete Streets in Caltrans Project Delivery (2021-2024) and subsequently as the inaugural Complete Streets Lead Advisor (since 2025), she has worked to build and guide this program. Susan additionally co-led the team that delivered Design Information Bulletin 94, Caltrans' contextual design guidance for the development of Complete Streets projects.

She now leads efforts to expand Caltrans’ multimodal portfolio to integrate bicycle, pedestrian, and transit priority facility solutions, and enhance community engagement.

The Bimla G. Rhinehart Award recognizes contributions to the transportation field by non-engineering Caltrans managers. This may include, but is not limited to, surveyors, architects, lawyers, planners, landscape architects, administrators, right-of-way agents, maintenance managers, rail, aeronautics, and mass transportation managers. Ms. Rhinehart was known across the state for her amazing ability to create strong relationships and partnerships that benefitted Californians and moved transportation projects forward. During her 27 years with the California Department of Transportation, she served as the Division Chief of Right of Way and Land Surveys, Acting Division Chief of Budgets, Deputy Director of External Affairs and Special Projects Manager. She also served as Executive Director of the California Transportation Commission and was a member of the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee.

James E. Roberts

Jason Fang
Senior Bridge Engineer
HQ, Division of Engineering Services

Dr. Jason Q. Fang is a Senior Bridge Engineer with Caltrans and a recognized leader in seismic bridge engineering, structural dynamics, and innovative bridge delivery. With over 15 years of research experience in stochastic dynamics of structures and more than 20 years of engineering practice at Caltrans, he brings a unique integration of theoretical rigor and practical application to the advancement of transportation infrastructure.

At Caltrans, Dr. Fang has led and contributed to numerous complex and high-profile bridge projects, providing technical leadership in seismic analysis, design methodology development, and performance-based engineering.

He is also committed to mentoring engineers and advancing the profession through research and education.

The James E. Roberts Award annually recognizes outstanding contributions by Caltrans registered engineers to the field of transportation structures. Mr. Roberts served as a structural engineer and manager for more than half a century, including 15 years as California’s State Bridge Engineer. He spearheaded Caltrans’ $4.5 billion seismic retrofit program and oversaw nearly $50 million in seismic research projects. He was named to the National Academy of Engineering in 1996, and retired in 2001 as Chief Deputy Director.