By Stan Paul
For Robert Hampshire, former deputy secretary for research and technology at the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), leading innovation at the federal level implies cooperation and confidence between multiple industries and stakeholders.
The Hampshire, which was also Director of Sciences of the Department – The first person to fulfill this role in more than four decades – came to the UCLA this spring to discuss the importance of an approach focused on the mission of the challenges in transport safety and serving all travelers on the roads of the country and in the air.
Adam Millard-BallUrban planning professor and sound director, presented the principal speaker for April 28 Luskin conference co-organized by the UCLA Transport Studies Institute (Sound) as part of Martin Wachs distinguished series series.
The Hampshire also talked about the resilience of the supply chain and the future of unreaded air systems (UAS) and shared its first -hand experiences and lessons during its four -year public service post. At USDOT, he managed the Federal Agency’s research and technology program, including its 2 billion dollar research and technology portfolio in all American transport modes while directing more than 1,000 civil servants.
Since completed his services in 2025, Hampshire recovered in his role as an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan. But, he said to the public: “I had a little time to rethink and formulate some reflections in particular NOW What it means to serve and the complexity of our time, the challenges that we see in democracy, to polarization. But, all this in the context of so many technological changes. »»
As an agademic, Hampshire describes its research as a mixture of public policies, operational research, data science and systems approaches to analyze new transport systems. These include intelligent car park, connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, carpooling, bicycle sharing, car sharing, as well as pedestrian and cyclists’ safety. At the same time, it focuses on environmental impacts, equity and access to opportunities.
Hampshire said that an additional objective of his speech was to provide examples to researchers and students how to have more impact, especially as researchers.
“I really believe that a as researchers, technologists, within the transportation sector, we need to work diligently to increese with our social capital. That’s our networks, not just who you know,” he said, emphasizing the importance of building trust, especial with different Building reciprocity and shared values, “… Reaffirming Things like ‘Safety is why we are here… and Particularly How We Need to be More Embedded Into the Transportation Ecosystem, and Also the Non -Transport ecosystem – Our healthy friends, our friends in education and others.
He recalled a certain number of experiences where research and technology have played, and continues to play, an important public role. An example that had an important national impact was the implementation of 5G Cellular who came into conflict with safety problems for US aviation while he was with USDOT. At the end of 2021, the FAA was preparing to melt each plane across the country, a few days before Christmas. But, said the Hampshire, months before he was responsible for directing the side of the technical response of negotiations involving FAA, the White House and the Industry.
Hampshire said that what was missing was the social capital to get things done. But, in the end, an agreement was negotiated when the telecommunications industry delayed the deployment of 5G so that they can work more closely with the aviation industry to deploy it nationally in an orderly without incident, said Hampshire.
“These are all small stories that you do not hear, but there are heroic efforts behind. And I think that this level of social capital and labor relations that were built during this period, will certainly serve the nation,” he said.
Ann E. Carlson, director of the faculty, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment At the UCLA School of Law, then joined the conference used as a moderator for a more in -depth discussion on issues such as drastic changes and budget cuts occurring at the federal level and their impact on federal employees and transport. The Hampshire and Carlson, who also served in the Biden-Harris administration as an acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), have discussed the future of automated vehicles, high-speed train in California and also shared anecdotes on work with the former transport secretary, Pete Buttigieg.
Hampshire praised the Directorate of Buttigieg and the many federal employees with which he worked during his first passage in the public service by saying: “I will be eternally grateful for what they taught me about the public service and certainly, for students and others, there is a real honor in the public service. It’s something worth it, and I start again. “
Look at him full video of the event. See photos.
THE Series of conferences UCLA LUSKIN Improves public discourse on subjects relevant for the improvement of society. The series presents renowned public intellectuals, bringing together academics as well as national and local leaders to solve the most urgent problems of society. Conferences encourage interactive and living discourse through traditional divisions between the worlds of research, politics and practice. The series demonstrates the commitment of the UCLA Luskin to encourage innovative breakthroughs and creative solutions to formidable public policy challenges.
THE The WACHS series of the UCLA transport institute Draw innovative thinkers at the University of California to solve the most urgent problems today in terms of transport. Created by students to honor the late Professor Martin Wachs to his retirement from the University, the conference turns between Berkeley and the UCLA, the campuses to which Marty taught. He died on April 12, 2021.