AMES, IA — Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) Director Scott Marler has received the 2026 Joey Sagal Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Leadership Award from the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE).
The award was presented at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee on Transportation System Operations annual meeting and recognizes exceptional leadership in TSMO.
Under Marler's leadership, Iowa DOT developed one of the nation's first formal TSMO Program Plans and Strategic Plans. His accomplishments include creating eight TSMO Service Layer Plans, devising a plan for Traffic Management Center staffing, Highway Helper Safety Service Patrols and a statewide Lane Closure System, and advancing Traffic Incident Management planning across Iowa's interstate system.
Marler has also served in multiple national leadership roles, including Chair of the AASHTO Committee on Transportation System Operations, and has held positions with ITS America, the Transportation Research Board, and the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials.
The award honors the late Joey Sagal, former Executive Director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, who died in October 2023. Sagal was a longtime NOCoE volunteer leader and career firefighter.
