“Andy has experience in many engineering fields, from starting in MDOT’s Bridge Division to his current position as Assistant State Traffic Engineer, and has served the people of Mississippi well for over three decades at MDOT,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “I’ve witnessed his technical skills, oversight, and engineering experience for several years and have every confidence Andy can successfully manage our District 3 infrastructure system while finding innovative solutions to address any potential challenges that arise on his watch.”
McNair received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University in 1990 before beginning his career at MDOT in the hydraulics section of the Bridge Division. He moved to the Traffic Engineering Division in 1999 where he served as an Area Traffic Engineer in several districts across the state. In 2013, McNair took on the role of Assistant State Traffic Engineer, providing oversight of engineering, the Jackson sign shop, signal shop, and sign field crews.
As District 3 Engineer, McNair will oversee construction and maintenance projects throughout the area, which covers the state’s western most counties, from Jefferson County up the Mississippi River to Bolivar County.
In addition to McNair, MDOT names Assistant Chief Engineer - Field Operations Billy Owen, PE, to the position of District 6 Engineer. Headquartered in Hattiesburg, MDOT District 6 encompasses 14 counties in southeast Mississippi. The move comes as longtime District 6 Engineer Kelly Castleberry announced his retirement at the end of 2023.
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“Billy’s intelligence, skills, efficiency, and experience will serve the people of southeast Mississippi exceedingly well,” White said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Billy and have every confidence in his leadership abilities and commitment to moving our state’s transportation system forward.”
Owen received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University in 1998. Upon graduation, he began working in MDOT’s Gulfport Project Office as an Engineer-in-Training. He transferred to the Contract Administration division in MDOT’s Jackson office in 2004 where he held various positions before being named Division Director in July 2013.
In 2016, Owen was promoted to Assistant Chief Engineer - Operations, and in 2019, he was appointed as Assistant Chief Engineer - Field Operations, overseeing the divisions of Contract Administration, Construction, Materials, Maintenance, and Permits/Motor Carriers. He received the Government Engineer of the Year award in 2020.
As District 6 Engineer, Owen will oversee all construction and maintenance projects in the area, which covers portions of the Pine Belt as well as the Mississippi Gulf
Coast.
