As Agency's Future is Questioned, DDOT Announces New Key Appointments

Just as the blogosphere about the future of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), agency head Terry Bellamy announced the hiring and promotion of three individuals to fill vacant priority positions.

According to a news release, DDOT hired Ravindra Ganvir, P.E. to serve as the Deputy Chief Engineer for the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI). Ganvir most recently worked for the Army Corps of Engineers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

He will work alongside Muhammed Khalid, P.E. who was recently promoted to serve as Deputy Chief Engineer in the Infrastructure Project Management Administration (IPMA) under Chief Engineer Ronaldo “Nick” Nicholson, P.E.

Additionally, John Lisle was promoted to Director of Communications for the agency.  

“These three individuals bring a great deal of experience to our leadership team,” said Director Bellamy in a news release.

This announcement comes mere days after a post on Greater Greater Washington as key officials from the Fenty administration continue to leave the transportation agency.

In the post, Georgetown resident, Ken Archer, wrote:

Residents should be most concerned about whether DDOT is having trouble recruiting and retaining talent, particularly those willing to work exhaustive hours at meetings across the city to carry out a vision that inspires them.

With so many projects at critical junctures at DDOT, the prospect of a brain drain is a major challenge for new permanent director Terry Bellamy, new chair of the DC Council Transportation Committee Mary Cheh, and ultimately, Mayor Gray.

In the news release Tuesday, Bellamy indirectly responded to these concerns.

“By focusing on our human capital and positioning ourselves to keep attracting top industry talent, we will continue to deliver quality service to the District and its residents. I anticipate we will have more staff announcements in near future” he wrote.

Bios of newly-selected DDOT management officials:

Ravindra Ganvir, P.E.
Mr. Ganvir has worked for the US Army Corp of Engineers, U.S. Installation Management Command and the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland State Highway Administration as the Assistant District Engineer of Construction and Project Development.  In his new role he will administer the planning, design, engineering and construction of AWI projects, oversee the Storm Water Management program, and manage other special, large, and complex projects throughout the District.

Muhammed Khalid, P.E.
Mr. Khalid of DDOT’s Infrastructure Project Management Administration (IPMA) has been with the agency for 25 years. He has played a key role in the creation and delivery of major infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of the Whitehurst Freeway, reconstruction of the Benning Road Bridge over the Anacostia River, and the 14^th Street Bridges over the Potomac.  As Deputy Chief Engineer, Khalid has taken on the responsibility of delivering all Capital Projects for DDOT and the supervision of the Program Teams, Asset Management, and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Divisions within IPMA.

John Lisle

Mr. Lisle has been with DDOT since August 2008 and has helped make the agency a leader in the use of social media to communicate with residents. He will continue to lead DDOT’s public outreach and media relations efforts, a role he has been filling on an acting basis since January.  Mr. Lisle came to DDOT from the Arlington County Police Department where he served as the Public Information Officer and prior to that he was a reporter for 17 years at local television stations.