When people think about civil engineering, they often think about roads, bridges, and buildings. And while those are definitely part of the job, the truth is, civil engineering teaches you something even more powerful: how to think. For me, my background in civil engineering has shaped not just the way I approach technical problems, but how I make decisions as a leader, manage public projects, and serve communities.
Strategic decision-making is about more than just weighing pros and cons — it’s about understanding systems, anticipating impacts, and keeping long-term goals in sight. And those are all skills I learned first as an engineer.
Problem-Solving with Purpose
One of the first things engineering teaches you is that there’s rarely a perfect solution — just the best one for the situation at hand. You learn how to evaluate different options, test assumptions, and think several steps ahead. That mindset has been incredibly valuable throughout my career, especially in public infrastructure.
When I’m making decisions now — whether it’s choosing the best site for a new landfill or deciding how to allocate funding for wastewater infrastructure upgrades — I don’t just look at the immediate benefits. I think about how each choice will affect the system as a whole five, ten, or even twenty years down the line. That long-range, systems-based thinking is something civil engineering instills from day one.
Understanding the Details Behind the Big Picture
A lot of strategic leaders know how to think big. But what sets a civil engineering background apart is that you also learn to appreciate the details. You know how important proper grading is for drainage, or how a slight design change can impact material costs or timelines. That level of awareness helps you ask the right questions — and avoid costly overruns and change orders.
When I sit in meetings with architects, contractors, or city planners, I’m not just nodding along. I understand what’s being discussed because I’ve done the work myself. That credibility helps build trust and allows me to lead projects with confidence, knowing I have both the big-picture vision and the technical know-how to back it up.
Prioritizing Public Safety and Sustainability
One of the most important lessons civil engineering teaches is that public safety comes first. Whether you’re designing a highway or a wastewater treatment plant, you’re responsible for creating something that people rely on every single day. That responsibility doesn’t go away when you step into a leadership or administrative role.
As a decision-maker, I bring that same mindset to everything I do. When evaluating new projects, my first question is always: Is this safe, and does it serve the community well? And right after that: Is it sustainable? Civil engineering doesn’t just focus on function — it teaches you to build things that last, that can withstand stress, weather, and time. I carry that same standard into every strategy conversation I have.
Budgeting with an Engineer’s Brain
Let’s be honest — public projects always involve budgets, timelines, and trade-offs. Having a background in engineering helps me make realistic plans. I know what it takes to bring a project from concept to completion, and that helps me avoid overpromising or underestimating. I can spot when a timeline is too tight, or when a cost estimate doesn’t account for key variables.
This has helped me advocate for smarter spending. It’s not always about spending less — sometimes it’s about knowing where to invest so that the public gets long-term value. And that’s something engineering trains you to recognize.
Communicating Complex Ideas Simply
Engineering taught me how to take something complicated — like a Site Suitability Study for a new Subtitle D Landfill — and break it down into clear, actionable steps. That skill has served me well as a public leader. Whether I’m talking to elected officials, community members, or team members from non-technical backgrounds, I’m often explaining complex projects in simple terms.
People don’t need every technical detail — they need to understand how a decision affects them, why it’s being made, and what the benefits are. My engineering background helps me communicate clearly and build consensus, even around difficult topics.
Leading with Logic and Integrity
At its core, engineering is about logic, structure, and integrity. You’re taught to do things the right way — not the easy way — and to stand by your calculations. That foundation has guided my leadership style for years. When I make a decision, I want to make sure it’s supported by data, grounded in facts, and fair to the people it affects.
This mindset also helps in moments of pressure. When things go wrong — and they sometimes do — I fall back on the same process I learned from my professor and mentor Dr. Lee L. Lowery at Texas A&M University: define the problem, analyze it thoroughly, look at the options, and choose the best path forward. It sounds simple, but in high-stakes environments, having a calm, logical approach makes all the difference.
The Value of a Technical Foundation
People often ask me if I still use my engineering degree, and the answer is always yes — every single day. Even though I’m not drafting site plans or running load calculations anymore, the way I think, communicate, and lead is all rooted in the discipline of engineering.
Civil engineering gave me more than a career — it gave me a toolkit for strategic thinking. It taught me how to look at challenges through multiple lenses, how to make decisions that stand the test of time, and how to lead with clarity and purpose.
In public service, that’s an edge I never take for granted.