ASCE statement celebrating two leaders appointed by President Biden to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council

The following is a statement by Tom Smith, Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Society of Civil Engineers warmly congratulates Maria Lehman and Norma Jean Mattei for their appointment to President Biden’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). Maria and Norma Jean’s deep dedication to improving the nation’s infrastructure is demonstrated not only by their commitment to ASCE, but by their extensive careers undertaking leadership roles in the infrastructure space. Both Maria and Norma Jean are excellent additions to the Council that are uniquely qualified to act as trusted advisors to the White House on how to improve the resilience of our nation’s infrastructure from both physical and cyber risks.

As the incoming ASCE President and a civil engineer with over 40 years of diverse transportation experience in the public and private sector, Maria Lehman’s appointment as Vice Chair of the NIAC will provide the council with strong and knowledgeable leadership, enabling the group to advance the priorities of the Administration and ensure that policies are developed with the resilience of our nation’s infrastructure top of mind. Maria is a long-time advocate for our nation’s infrastructure, sitting on ASCE’s Committee on America’s Infrastructure, which is responsible for developing the Report Card on America’s Infrastructure, as well integral to the development of policies that guide and organization’s work at all levels of government.

Meanwhile, Norma Jean Mattei, served as President of ASCE in 2017 and currently sits on ASCE New Orleans’ Chapter of the Structural Engineering Institute. As a professor at the University of New Orleans and a Commissioner on the Mississippi River Commission since 2012, Norma Jean brings to the Council a deep understanding of civil engineering issues that face the nation’s infrastructure. Additionally, her expertise in sustainable engineering and construction, as well as large watershed management initiatives will be critical as the Council develops policies to ensure the nation’s infrastructure is not only built more resiliently, but more sustainably as well.

We applaud the Administration for reinstituting the Council as federal, state, and local governments are in the process of implementing the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. ASCE looks forward to working with the National Infrastructure Advisory Council and we wish Maria and Norma Jean well in their new national leadership roles.

About the American Society of Civil Engineers

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation's infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.