Susan Shaw Wins Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Transportation
HERNDON, Va. – Earlier this week, at the ARTBA National Convention, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) presented Susan Shaw, Vice President of Major Program Development and Delivery at ATCS, with the prestigious Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award. This national award recognizes Shaw’s exceptional leadership, innovative contributions, and enduring dedication to the transportation design and construction industry. Named in honor of Ethel S. Birchland, ARTBA’s executive director from 1924 to 1928, the award celebrates women who have shown exemplary service and leadership, with an emphasis on promoting innovation and advancing women leaders in the field.
With an illustrious career spanning more than 40 years, Susan Shaw has left an indelible mark on both public and private sector transportation engineering. At ATCS, she has been instrumental in supporting clients through complex public-private partnership (P3) projects, while her previous role at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) saw her leading the Northern Virginia MegaProjects team, delivering transformative infrastructure solutions such as the I-395 and I-495 Express Lanes extensions.
A hallmark of Susan’s career has been her leadership of large-scale infrastructure projects. The $3.7 billion Transform 66 initiative, which she spearheaded, brought significant multimodal travel improvements to one of the Commonwealth’s most congested corridors, resulting in enhanced transportation options and substantial cost savings for Virginia. Susan’s expertise in developing and leading P3 initiatives has positioned her as a driving force in modernizing infrastructure delivery.
Beyond her project leadership, Susan has continuously contributed to the advancement of the transportation sector by sharing her knowledge through industry associations and prestigious platforms. Her insights on procurement methods, public-private partnerships, and financing have been featured at key conferences like P3C, the Volpe Center for Excellence, and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Executive Policy Committee. Additionally, her involvement with the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) national webinar has further demonstrated her commitment to fostering a collaborative, knowledge-sharing environment.
“Susan’s leadership is marked by a dedication to innovation and a commitment to supporting and mentoring women in the engineering and transportation fields,” said John A. DePasquale, Senior Vice President of ATCS. “Her career is an inspiring example of how visionary leadership can transform not only infrastructure but also the future of the industry by encouraging diversity and fostering new talent.”
At VDOT, Susan pioneered the agency’s first design-build practice, overseeing a portfolio of projects valued at over $1 billion, setting new standards for efficient project delivery. Her work continues to push the boundaries of transportation innovation, as demonstrated by her leadership on projects like the Transform 66 P3 program, which has introduced express lanes and enhanced multimodal options to improve the region’s mobility. Her advocacy for inclusivity has inspired many, as she remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders, particularly women engineers.
The Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates these profound contributions, honoring Susan’s legacy of excellence and her role as a mentor, advocate, and leader. Her work exemplifies the qualities the award seeks to recognize, making her a well-deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.
About ATCS
ATCS is a leading engineering consulting firm offering comprehensive solutions across a wide range of fields, including transportation, traffic planning, environmental planning, geospatial, site civil, bridges and structures, rail and transit, buildings and facilities, air and noise, program management and project controls, water resources, and emergency management services. ATCS is committed to excellence in all aspects of our work, ethical business practices, client-focused service delivery, and social responsibility towards the communities we serve and operate in. Learn more at atcscorp.com and stay connected with ATCS on LinkedIn and Facebook.
