State Highway Engineer
O. Gilbert Newman, P.E.

O. Gilbert Newman, P.E. was born in Berea, KY and graduated from Franklin County High School.  He first began work with the Kentucky Department of Highways as an undergraduate student while attending the University of Kentucky.  

After receiving his B.S.C.E. from U.K. in the spring of 1967, he entered the engineering industry with Haworth and Associates.  He then accepted a consulting position with American Engineering before serving as Vice President and Chief Engineer with highway construction firm, The E. Randle Company.  While with Randle, Mr. Newman first established himself in the engineering field by directly overseeing the construction of several major projects throughout the region.

Mr. Newman returned to the Commonwealth of Kentucky when Governor Wallace Wilkinson named him State Highway Engineer on June 16, 1988.  At that time, the position supervised a staff of 300 professionals and total personnel of 5,600 and served on several committees.

Since leaving state service in 1991, Mr. Newman has worked as Vice President and General Manager of Central Kentucky Asphalt, and managed offices in both Cincinnati and Lexington for Balke Engineers before their merge with American and rebranding under the ENTRAN name.

Governor Steve Beshear reappointed Mr. Newman to the State Highway Engineers’ Office in December.  As State Highway Engineer, Mr. Newman is responsible for leadership and oversight of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Highways.  The Department of Highways is charged with providing the Commonwealth with a safe and reliable system of state-maintained highways and transportation facilities.  The Department of Highways includes 27,000 miles of state roads and 4,600 professional staff.

 

Mr. Newman has been honored many times over the years for his accomplishments in the engineering industry.  He has served in leadership roles on several committees and continues to stay very involved.

Mr. Newman is a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Memorial Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky.  He is married to Mildred L. Hampton Newman and they make their home in Frankfort, Kentucky.