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Chief Engineer Hutchinson announces retirement

Memo to ITD Director Pam Lowe
April 8
It is time to quell the rumors and verify the worst kept secret of the last few months at the Idaho Transportation Department. I intend to retire from state service, with my last day being June 27, 2008.

It has been an interesting and unique 36 years since May 15, 1972.

Who would have thought at that time, while I was tying my tie to go to a meeting with District Engineer Howard Johnson that I would have made it to Chief Engineer. I have had some challenging assignments on some of the most unique projects that the department has designed and built including the Perrine Bridge, Horseshoe Bend Hill and the Connector on I-184 coming into Boise.

I was also given the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of management systems with the implementation of the maintenance management system in 1976 and later managing the Operations Management Systems section.

The engineering and management have been great, but the most rewarding aspect of the last 36 years has been the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most remarkable people ever to serve in state government. I have been trained and tutored by some very talented people at all levels, and my success has been in large part due to the insights that I received from each and every one of them. It is the people that I am going to miss the most as I take this next step in my life.

Susan and I have great plans for our future. One of my goals is to fix my handicap which will require much more attention than I have been able to give recently. We also intend to travel and take full advantage of the fact that all of our children and grandchildren live close by.

I wish you and all in the department good luck and Godspeed.

Steve Hutchinson
Chief Engineer