Robert E. Skinner, Jr. Distinguished Transportation Research Management Award

The Award recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement in the management of transportation research. The recipient should be an individual who has distinguished themselves through leadership of one or more major transportation research programs that have contributed to significant advances in transportation over the course of their career.

In 2021, the Executive Committee established the Robert E. Skinner, Jr. Distinguished Transportation Research Management Award. The Award is named for Robert E. Skinner, Jr. who served TRB for more than 30 years, including 21 years as its executive director from 1994 to 2015.

Who Can Nominate

Anyone currently or formerly in the transportation research or research implementation fields.

Nomination Process

The nomination portal will open in early June. All nominations must be submitted no later than July 31. A single nomination may be jointly submitted and supported by multiple nominators; however, nominators must designate a corresponding nominator. All nominators must currently be, or have previously been, active in the transportation research or research implementation fields.

Nominators will be expected to summarize information about their candidate in each of the following areas: (1) relevant contributions and accomplishments; (2) record of service to the profession; and (3) scope of achievements and enduring influence.

Summary information for each of the three areas may not exceed 400 words, for a total of no more than 1,200 words per nomination. Nominators will have the option to upload their candidate’s bio or provide a link to an online version. Nominators may submit more than one candidate per nomination cycle, and the submission form allows candidates to be considered for more than one award. Current TRB staff are not eligible to receive this award.

Nominators will be notified once a decision has been made by the selection committee. The award recipient will be notified in October, with a formal announcement released later in the fall. The award is dated for the year in which the recipient is named and is presented at the Chair’s Plenary Session during the January TRB Annual Meeting.

Selection Committee

The Selection Committee will consist of the Chair and Vice Chair of the TRB Executive Committee, Chair and Vice Chair of the TRB Division Committee, and the Executive Director of TRB.

Past Recipients

2025 - Christopher P.L. Barkan
2024 - Rolf R. Schmitt
2023 - No Award Presented
2022 - Eugene R. (Gene) Russell, Sr.
2021 - Robert E. Skinner, Jr.