TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely Appoints New Environment & Planning Chief

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely today named Joe Carpenter the new Chief of Environment and Planning for TDOT. Carpenter currently serves as the Assistant Chief Engineer for Design at TDOT. Carpenter will replace Ed Cole, who is leaving TDOT to become the first Executive Director for the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee.

 

“During his time with TDOT Joe Carpenter has demonstrated his ability to effectively manage TDOT’s design, right of way and structures divisions, which has allowed him to work closely with the Environment and Planning Bureau on a number of environmentally sensitive projects,” said Nicely. “Ed Cole has been an invaluable asset and has initiated dramatic changes in TDOT’s environmental policies in his seven year tenure with the department. I’m confident Mr. Carpenter will help us continue to build on that momentum.”

 

As Chief of Environment and Planning, Carpenter will oversee the activities of the Environmental, Project Planning and Long Range Planning Divisions.  He began working with TDOT in 2001 as a Civil Engineering Manager in the Design Division.  Since 2008, he has been serving as Assistant Chief Engineer of Design, which oversees the structures, design and right of way divisions of TDOT. Carpenter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and maintains professional engineering registration in Arkansas and Tennessee. Carpenter previously worked as an engineer for Shelby County Government, several private engineering companies and the Texas Department of Transportation.

 

“I appreciate Commissioner Nicely’s confidence in my ability to lead this bureau,” said Carpenter. “I look forward to expanding my involvement in the environmental planning process, which is critical to the development of projects that balance Tennessee’s transportation needs with TDOT’s commitment to protect the environment.”

 

Carpenter will begin his duties as Chief of Environment and Planning on April 1.  A high resolution image of Mr. Carpenter can be downloaded from www.tn.gov/tdot/mediaroom/tdot_staff.htm.