Brinkman named 'Rising Star' by national engineering magazine

Jason Brinkman, whose professional career at ITD has been progressively mobile, was named one of the nation’s Rising Stars in Civil Engineering by the online publication CE News based in Arkansas. The magazine, which focuses on civil and structural engineering, announced the selection last week.

“Based on your professional accomplishments … you have been selected as a 2013 Rising Star in Civil Engineering,” wrote Bob Drake, CE News editor. “As one of only 15 Rising Stars selected this year, (Jason) will be highlighted in an article in the April issue of CE News.”

The Rising Stars in Civil Engineering program recognizes civil engineers 40 years old or younger working in the U.S. who have shown exceptional technical capability, leadership ability, effective teaching or research, and/or public service benefiting the civil engineering profession, their employers, project owners and/or society.

Award recipients also must demonstrate exceptional ability and professional accomplishments related civil or structural engineering in project design, management, leadership, teaching research and / or public service.

Brinkman joined ITD as an Engineer in Training in 2000. In the past 13 years, he was:

  • Reclassified to an Engineer Associate, 2002
  • Reclassified to a Staff Engineer in 2004
  • Promoted to an Engineer Technical 2, in 2006
  • Promoted to an Engineer Manager 2, in 2008

In 2008, he was named manager of the GARVEE Transportation Program, where he was responsible for administering nearly $900 million in bond-funded construction projects statewide.

One of the GARVEE projects, Idaho’s first single-point urban interchange at Interstate 84 and Vista, received the AASHTO President’s Award in 2010, among many other accolades.

Brinkman served as interim manager of the Right of Way section, introducing new best management practices, and was selected manager of the Transportation Systems Group last year. In that critical position, he oversees deployment of ITD’s new management systems and other technology initiatives for the Highway Division.

In 2011, he was nominated for the prestigious Dr. L. I. Hewes Award, presented by the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the highway development program by an individual actively engaged in highway development in the western U.S.

Published 3-29-13