LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS CHIEF ENGINEER INTISSAR DURHAM HONORED WITH CAL STATE L.A.’S ‘PUBLIC SERVANT OF YEAR’ AWARD

(Los Angeles, California – August 3, 2010)  Intissar Durham, Chief Airports Engineer/Deputy Program Manager of Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA) Airport Development Program, was among a field of stellar honorees cited during the Greater Los Angeles Engineer of the Year Awards gala held July 29 atCaliforniaStateUniversity, Los Angeles (CSULA). 

            Durham was honored with the Los Angeles Engineering Public Servant of the Year award and was recognized for her contributions and involvement in LAWA’s activities that significantly contribute to the infrastructure of Los Angeles. 

            Sponsored by the Friends of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology at CSULA, the awards were presented to seven notables in the field of engineering. The other honorees were U. S. Secretary of Energy and Nobel Laureate Steven Chu; Alan J. Fohrer, Southern California Edison; John Tracy, The Boeing Company; Emanuel Brady, Raytheon; Armando Ramirez, AECOM Technology Corporation; and entrepreneur Alfred Mann.

            Durham ’s responsibilities at LAWA have involved providing technical expertise in the development of design plans and standards, program construction delivery strategies, and environmental stewardship measures for new LAWA Capital Improvement programs, including airfield improvements, utilities and infrastructures, landside developments and terminal improvements.  

In addition to serving as Deputy Program Manager for  development at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Durham, as Chief Airports Engineer, also managed the Major Projects Division, which was responsible for the Southside Airfield Improvement Program, the Runway Status Light Infrastructure Project, the Tom Bradley International Terminal Interior Improvements and Baggage Screening Facility, and Security Program In-Line Baggage Screening Systems at both LAX and LA/Ontario International Airport.

            Durham also led LAWA’s efforts to make the organization a global leader in airport sustainability.  In 2007, she was instrumental in developing LAWA’s Sustainable Airport Planning, Design and Construction Guidelines that are continuously put into practice on all aspects of LAWA development.    

            With more than 20 years at LAWA, Durham has managed several programs, such as Century Cargo Redevelopment, and the LAX Enhancement Programs that included the iconic LAX Gateway pylons that illuminate the Century Boulevard entrance to the airport..

            Durham began working for the City of Los Angeles at the Department of Public Works in early 1984 and has been at LAWA since early 1988. 

            She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from CSULA and a Masters in Business Administration degree from LoyolaMarymountUniversity.

            With the motto “Inspire, Support, Transform,” the Friends of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology is a professional organization that supports advancement of the educational programs in engineering, computer science and technology at CSULA.