Short Span Steel Bridges 
White House Nominates McMaster as FHWA Administrator
The following information was provided by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
The Trump administration has nominated Sean McMaster, an executive with the Boeing aerospace company and a former vice president with infrastructure consulting firm HNTB, to be the next administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
McMaster, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from George Mason University, previously served as deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation as well as deputy assistant secretary for Congressional affairs from 2017 to 2019.
Prior to joining USDOT, McMaster served with the professional staff for the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2011 to 2017.
He also worked as deputy chief of staff for former Rep. John Mica (R-FL), a longtime congressional leader in transportation policy and infrastructure development, including as chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
His career also includes roles at the International Trade Administration, where he worked as senior policy advisor, and at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he served as congressional liaison.
For more information, visit AASHTO Journal.
SSSBA’s Role in Modernizing U.S. Bridges
The nomination of Sean McMaster as the next FHWA administrator comes at a time when infrastructure investment is a national priority, including the modernization of aging bridges.
The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) advocates for cost-effective, durable steel bridge solutions, particularly for spans up to 140 feet, which make up a significant portion of the nation’s bridge inventory.
With FHWA overseeing federal bridge programs, SSSBA’s work aligns with ongoing efforts to improve efficiency reduce costs and enhance the resilience of U.S. infrastructure.
For more information, please explore the SSSBA website or contact Dan Snyder at dsnyder@steel.org
Events
SSSBA to Present on Accelerated Steel Bridge Design at Mid Atlantic Quality Assurance Workshop (Feb. 9-11)
The SSSBA will participate in the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Quality Assurance Workshop in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Don’t miss Dr. Michael Barker’s presentation on Feb. 10, 3:00–3:40 p.m. ET, highlighting practical approaches for cost-efficient, accelerated short span steel bridges.
News
State DOT Leaders Share Perspectives on Reauthorization at TRB
A roundtable at the 2026 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting highlighted state DOT priorities for reauthorization, including formula funding, safety, and faster project delivery.
News
Help Provide an Amazing Competition for Student Bridge Engineers!
AISC/NSBA is seeking volunteers to support the Student Steel Bridge Competition, helping teams from more than 200 colleges and universities—no experience required.