Sablan named AASHTO Fellow
Kevin Sablan, ITD’s State Design/Traffic Services Engineer, has been awarded a 2016 AASHTO Transportation Management Fellowship and will spend the next year in Washington, D.C., working on engineering and transportation policy issues. He will live and work in the nation‘s capital starting March 28.
Sablan is Idaho’s first AASHTO Fellow in the 15-year history of the program. Sablan was interviewed in early February and was selected as one of three AASHTO Fellows Feb. 18. 
“I’ve a lot of work to do here (at ITD) which is my only reservation about this, but it appears to be a great opportunity and a great benefit to the department, not to mention professionally for myself,” said Sablan of the appointment.
The fellowship will give Sablan the opportunity to interact with engineers, transportation professionals, and policy-makers from across the country, making contact with colleagues from other state DOTs, who will likely become invaluable resources for the rest of his career. In addition, ITD will benefit from the knowledge obtained and the connections made by Sablan during his year, including a better understanding of the association's inner workings. AASHTO will benefit from Sablan’s "front-line" expertise and practical experience in formulating technical documents and policy positions related to association business.
During the fellowship year, AASHTO provides a monthly stipend to defray costs of living in the Washington area and reimburses all work-related travel expenses, while the state continues to provide the fellowship recipient's salary and benefits.
According to AASHTO, Fellows must have expertise in one or more of the following areas – safety, maintenance, highway and structure design, operations, environment, planning, traffic engineering, materials, freight, project finance and public transportation. In addition, AASHTO looks for candidates with approximately 8-15 years of professional experience in transportation.
Sablan has been with ITD since 1999.
Published 02-26-16