The Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS)-Boston honored Anne Aylward, deputy director for Research and Technology at Volpe, with its 2016 Leadership Award.

Aylward has made substantial contributions to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) priorities as a leader for Volpe’s research and technology staff of 490 analysts, economists, engineers, planners, scientists, and system developers.

Before joining Volpe, Aylward worked for the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) from 1976 to 1993, including 10 years as director of the Port of Boston. She was also the first woman elected to chair the American Association of Port Authorities. As executive director of the National Commission on Intermodal Transportation, Aylward was the primary author of the Commission’s 1994 report to Congress.

“I recall meeting Anne when I was new to Massport, many years ago,” said Mary Jane O’Meara, former director of the Tobin Bridge and now an associate vice president at engineering firm HNTB. “She immediately welcomed me as part of the group, just as she ushered many other women into the maritime industry. She’s done the same at Volpe, guiding many early career women into transportation careers across all modes. She makes everyone feel like they’re on a team—it’s a real gift of hers.”

In Aylward’s more than 20 years of service at Volpe, she has advanced a range of transportation priorities:

• Chaired Volpe’s Strategic Planning Initiative, which used crowdsourcing principles to develop and achieve 19 action initiatives that support Volpe and DOT goals.
• Implemented a major revamp of Volpe’s research staff and organizational structure.
• Co-leads Volpe’s support on high-visibility DOT priorities, including Beyond Traffic, NextGen, and the first National Freight Strategic Plan.
• Encourages talented and energetic professionals to join Volpe—25 percent of staff have joined since 2013.
• Serves as a role model and mentor for female employees—Under Aylward’s leadership, the percentage of female new hires increased from 32 percent in 2011 to 57 percent in 2015, and more women have been promoted into leadership positions.
• Strengthens relationships with DOT and other partners—Volpe’s research portfolio has increased in value by nearly 20 percent over the past 5 years.  

“Most people at Massport and Volpe have had a career-defining conversation with Anne,” said Luisa Paiewonsky, director of Infrastructure Systems and Technology at Volpe, who introduced Aylward at the WTS-Boston awards event on April 26. “She’s a mentor and an advisor for people at all levels at Volpe. Anne getting this award reflects her powerful support of women transportation professionals and her vision and commitment to a safe, multimodal transportation system.”

Aylward also served two terms as a member of the National Academy of Sciences Marine Board and is a member of several Transportation Research Board freight and intermodal committees.

“This award speaks to all the opportunities I’ve had to shape transportation—but, any personal success is only possible because of the people I get to work with,” Aylward said. “It’s a real pleasure every day to collaborate with the incredibly intelligent and dedicated staff at Volpe, and across DOT, toward making transportation safe and efficient for everyone.”