Mississippi News

New MDOT safety director, roadway design division director

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently announced two new leadership promotions. Mark Thomas will assume the role of State Safety Engineer and Chris Nail as the Roadway Design Division Director.

Chris Nail (Courtesy photo)

“It is my great pleasure to welcome Mark and Chris to their new roles,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “They have over three decades of experience with MDOT between them. I know that their expertise and leadership will benefit MDOT and the State of Mississippi.”

Mark began his career with the agency in 2012 as an Engineer in Training in the Traffic Engineering Division. After working as a Safety Engineer for seven years, he was promoted to Assistant State Safety Engineer with the Highway and Rail Safety Division in 2019. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2009.

Mark Thomas (Courtesy photo)

Chris came to MDOT as an Engineer in Training at the Newton Project Office in 1996. In 2005, he was promoted to Resident Engineer of the Newton Project Office and served in the position until 2015. He worked as the Assistant District 5 Local Public Agencies (LPA) Engineer from 2015 to 2017. He was promoted to District 5 Preconstruction Engineer in 2017. Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1996 and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University in 2009.

Bob Bakken

Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.

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