Contact: Dustin Barnes
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State civil engineer can add yet another major entry to an already impressive résumé: chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials' Committee on Road and Paving Materials.
In his new role, Thomas D. White, head of the university's civil engineering department, will help oversee the creation and evolution of standards in the industry. He said the committee works to develop and maintain specifications, test and standards of practices for materials and processes that are used for the construction and maintenance of roads and airports.
"These are important parts of transportation infrastructure," White said. "I consider it an honor to be selected by the membership as chairman."
White's past and current positions have helped prepare him for his latest role as committee chair. A Tallulah, La., native who holds a doctorate from Purdue University, he has been a registered professional engineer and ASTM member since 1973.
"Dr. White is a nationally recognized expert in paving materials, and his election as chair of the ASTM committee on road and paving materials is peer acknowledgement of his reputation and expertise," said Kirk Schulz, dean of MSU's Bagley College of Engineering.
"I think this is especially significant given his role as the holder of the Mississippi Construction and Materials Industries Endowed Chair," Schulz added.
In addition to working on another ASTM committee dealing with vehicle pavement systems, White holds the Bagley College's Construction and Materials Industries Chair (endowed professorship) and serves as director of the Mississippi Transportation Research Center, a part of the civil engineering department.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information, contact Dr. White at (662) 325-7185 or tdwhite@civil.msstate.edu.