Russell H. Henk, P.E.

Henk, Russell

Senior Research Engineer

Teens in the Driver Seat Center
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
1100 N.W. Loop 410, Suite 400
San Antonio, TX 78213
ph. (210) 979-9411 Ext. 17105 · fax (210) 979-9694
r-henk@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Mr. Henk has been a member of TTI's staff for 22 years, a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas for 16 years, and currently serves as Division Head and Administrator for TTI's Research and Implementation Offices in El Paso and San Antonio, Texas. These regional offices serve a vital role in testing, evaluating and deploying the results of the Institute's research and development efforts. During Mr. Henk's career with TTI, he has supervised and/or participated in over 60 research projects and technical studies. These technical activities have primarily been focused on transportation system operations, management and safety, with many of his recent projects being in the areas of emergency evacuation, teen driver safety, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications.

Mr. Henk has held numerous leadership positions at the state and national levels. He developed and currently serves as Program Director for an innovative peer-to-peer teen driver safety program called Teens in the Driver Seat. One of the fastest-growing initiatives at TTI, this program has now reached over 230 high schools and 250,000+ teens in Texas. Since deployment of this nationally-recognized, award-winning program started in Texas, teen fatalities have decreased 33 percent. The program is now active in California, Connecticut and Georgia and is being requested by many other states as well.

Education

  • M.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1989.
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1987.

Experience

  • Senior Research Engineer, Teens in the Driver Seat Center, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, May 2007 - Present.
  • Program Manager, Teens in the Driver Seat Center, Texas Transportation Institute, September 2009 - April 2011.
  • Division Head, TTI, Research and Implementation Division - San Antonio, El Paso, Texas Transportation Institute, January 2004 - August 2010.
  • Research Engineer, Research and Implementation Division - San Antonio, El Paso, Texas Transportation Institute, September 2005 - April 2007.
  • Associate Research Engineer, Research and Implementation - San Antonio, Texas Transportation Institute, June 1997 - August 2005.
  • Program Manager, TTI, Research and Implementation - San Antonio, Texas Transportation Institute, March 1999 - December 2003.
  • Assistant Research Engineer, Research and Implementation - San Antonio, Texas Transportation Institute, December 1994 - May 1997.
  • Assistant Research Engineer, Mobility Analysis, Texas Transportation Institute, April 1993 - November 1994.
  • Assistant Research Scientist, Mobility Analysis, Texas Transportation Institute, May 1989 - March 1993.
  • Research Associate, Mobility Analysis, Texas Transportation Institute, October 1988 - May 1989.
  • Research Assistant (GAR), Mobility Analysis, Texas Transportation Institute, December 1987 - September 1988.
  • Student Technician, Mobility Analysis, Texas Transportation Institute, May 1987 - December 1987.

Professional Registration

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 74460, 1993.

Affiliations

  • Member, Governor's Evacuation Task Force, Texas.
  • Member, Mayor's Transportation Cabinet, El Paso.
  • Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB).
  • Secretary, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Committee for Critical Transportation Infrastructure Protectrion.
  • Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Committee on Transportation Safety Management.
  • Secretary, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Subcommittee on Emergency Evacuation.
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Texas Section (TexITE).
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), International.
  • Member, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America).
  • Member, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), Texas Chapter.
  • Member, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).
  • Member, Chi Epsilon - The National Civil Engineering Honor Society.
  • Member, Tau Beta Pi.

Honors & Awards

David Award for Safety Campaign Excellence, Teens in the Driver Seat Program, 2008.

National Telly Award for "Teens in the Driver Seat" Project, 2008.

TTI/Trinity Herb Richardson Team Award for Teens in the Driver Seat Program, 2007.

ITE Transportation Achievement Award for Safety for Teens in the Driver Seat Program, 2007.

Global Road Safety Award for Video Production, Teens in the Driver Seat Program, 2007.

AASHTO President's Award for Safety for Teens in the Driver Seat Program, 2006.

Videographer Award of Distinction, Teens in the Driver Seat Program, 2006.

National Telly Award for "Teens in the Driver Seat" Project, 2003.

TxDOT Top Innovator Research Project Award, Texas Department of Transportation, 2002.

TxDOT Top Innovator Research Project Award, Texas Department of Transportation, 2000.

Researcher Award, TTI/Trinity Industries, 1996.

ITE International Best Paper Award, ITE, 1989.

Selected Publications

R.H. Henk. Expand the Peer-to-Peer Program for Decreasing Alcohol-Imapired Driving by College Students. 411087-1. October 2013.

R.H. Henk. Teens in the Driver Seat Safety Program in Texas. 411086-1. October 2013.

R.H. Henk, V.J. Pezoldt, B.R. Fette. Are Teens Safer on the Road Than They Were Ten Years Ago? - Yes, and No. TTI-2013-11. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2013.

R.H. Henk, P. Songchitruksa, S.P. Venglar, S.S. Samant, G. Lim. Prototype Design for a Predictive Model to Improve Evacuation Operations. 0-6121-S. Texas Transportation Institute, Arlington, TX. 2011.

R.H. Henk, P. Songchitruksa, S.P. Venglar, G. Lim. Prototype Decision-Making Software (web-based). 0-6121-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, Arlington, TX. November 2011.

R.H. Henk, P. Songchitruksa, S.P. Venglar, G. Lim. Prototype Design for a Predictive Model to Improve Evacuation Operations: Technical Report. 0-6121-1. Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX. August 2011.

K.O. Obeng-Boampong, L. Ding, R.H. Henk, M.Y. Garcia. Frontage Road Yield Treatment Analysis Tool (FRYTAT) Database: User Guide. 0-4986-P2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. August 2009.

K.O. Obeng-Boampong, L. Ding, R.H. Henk, M.Y. Garcia. Development of Frontage Road Yield Treatment Analysis Tool (FRYTAT) Database Software. Research Report. 0-4986-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2009.