Delaware River and Bay Authority Names Chief Engineer - Shoukry Elnahal to Lead Engineering and Construction Efforts

(New Castle, DE)  Today, Delaware River and Bay Authority officials announced that Shoukry Elnahal, P.E. was selected to be the bi-state agency’s new Chief Engineer.  Mr. Elnahal who begins his official duties today, reports to Jim Walls, Chief Operations Officer for the Authority.  

“I appreciate the confidence that the Commissioners and Executive Leadership have in my abilities and I’m honored to have been selected as the agency’s new Chief Engineer,” said M. Shoukry A. Elnahal, P.E.  “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to gain years of valuable design and construction experience while earning the respect and trust of peers, partners and stakeholders.  I’m eager to get started.  What a tremendous opportunity to work with airport, bridge and ferry infrastructure.”

Serving as the Chief Engineer, Mr. Elnahal is responsible for Authority-wide infrastructure engineering and construction activities, including developing and directing strategic planning of construction and renovations at all DRBA facilities.  The Chief Engineer is also a key player in the development of the agency’s Capital Improvement Program.  

“Shoukry Elnahal’s engineering expertise and leadership abilities made him an outstanding candidate to lead our engineering and construction efforts,” said Jim Walls, Chief Operations Officer.  “While working at FHWA, MassDOT and VDOT, Shoukry developed a thorough knowledge of national surface transportation programs while clearly demonstrating the ability to implement innovative ideas.  He’s a great addition to our team.”

Prior to joining the Authority, Mr. Elnahal served as the Director of the Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) for the past four (4) years at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division (MassDOT) in Boston, MA.   In the last two (2) years, the ABP won more than 30 national and regional awards, including the CMAA Program of the Year and the AASHTO Program Award.  Fifteen (15) months after joining MassDOT, Shoukry gained additional responsibilities and was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Engineer.

For three (3) decades, Shoukry worked for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in a number of capacities, each with an increasing level of responsibility.  Hired in 1980 as a Design Engineer at the Federal Lands Bridge Office in Sterling, Virginia, he was promoted to Design Squad Leader two (2) years later.  Several years later, Mr. Elnahal was then tapped to be the Office’s Chief Bridge Engineer.  In 2003, Shoukry was named Structures Technical Service Team Manager at FHWA’s Resource Center in Baltimore, MD.   When he left the federal agency in 2009, the team was one of the most recognized and respected structures teams in the country.

A licensed engineer for almost 40 years, Mr. Elnahal began his professional career at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in 1970.  Serving as both a design engineer and design team leader during his service with VDOT, Mr. Elnahal worked in partnership with the FHWA Division Office to deliver VDOT’s large State and Federal Aid transportation programs. 

A licensed professional engineer in Virginia, Mr. Elnahal earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Cairo University and a Masters in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

About the Delaware River and Bay Authority

The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, the Three Forts Ferry Crossing and the Salem Business Centre in Carney’s Point Twp., NJ. The DRBA also manages corporate and aviation properties through its economic development powers -two airports in New Jersey (Millville Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (New Castle Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities. For more information, visit www.drba.net.