Thomas W. Brahms

After joining the staff of the Institute of Transportation Engineers in February 1973, Thomas W. Brahms was selected to be the Executive Director in May 1976 and has served in that position since that time. During his tenure, ITE has undertaken proactive and aggressive roles concerning traffic congestion, transportation manpower, transportation safety, intelligent transportation systems and expansion of the magnitude of investment in research and development.

Tom has held professional positions in transportation planning and traffic operations for public agencies and for a consulting engineering firm. His professional activities have included service on several National Cooperative Highway Research Program panels and committees of several groups, including the Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility, the Council on Engineering and Scientific Society Executives, the National

Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances, ITS America, the Eno Center for Transportation Leadership, the Roadway Safety Foundation Advisory Committee and ITE. He serves as a Member of the Board of Directors and has served on the Executive Committee, as Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee and as Secretary of ITS America. He serves as Chair of the access committee for the Partnership for a Walk-able America and as a Member of the steering committee for the ITS Professional Capacity Building program. 

Tom received the 1988 Burton W. Marsh Distinguished Service Award, the Urban Mass Transportation Administrator’s Award and the Pedestrian Advocates Honor Award 2000 from the Partnership for a Walkable America for helping to establish National Walk Our Children to School Day. 

A graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Tom has served as a community leader in many capacities, including President of the Reston Commuter Bus Inc., a community-run bus service transporting more than 2,500 daily passengers, and he participated in a working group that initiated Reston’s Internal Bus System. He also served on the Technology Education Advisory Committee for Fairfax County Public Schools.