David Elder

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Age: 38

Title: Supervising Transportation Planner

Company: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Strategic Planning & Projects

Location: Newington

Hometown: Farmington

College: University of Pittsburgh (Undergraduate), Central Connecticut State University (Graduate)

Bio

As an employee in the Connecticut Department of Transportation's Office of Strategic Planning and Projects, David Elder is a key member of a new team that oversees, develops and implements federal and state transportation policy, the state's strategic transportation plan, transit-oriented development planning and a new sustainability program. Elder is part of a retooled effort, both nationally and at the state level to link transportation investment with economic development, environmental stewardship and quality of life. Increasingly, the relationship between transportation policy is one that requires close coordination among state, federal and local agencies to ensure that transportation investments are leveraging investments into housing, energy, business development and sustainable communities.

For Connecticut, creating these compatible relationships among the rural Litchfield hills, northeast quiet corner, Fairfield County's hustle and bustle and the seaport industries of southeast Connecticut is both challenging and rewarding. Connecticut has a unique geography with a myriad of people and communities — all of which depend on an efficient system of roads, bridges, trains and buses.

Q&A

At what age did you decide what you wanted to do with your career? Believe it or not — I wanted to be a trash collector (garbage man) because they used to hang off the back of the trucks. I chose a career in public policy due to a general fascination of people, places and civilizations. As an undergraduate anthropology student, I studied many cultures and civilizations. I am still fascinated in the way we choose to live and the values we promote as a society. A career in public policy interests me because it is directly related to how human civilizations interact with their environment.

I prepare for the unexpected in life by… Preparing for the unexpected. One thing living in the outdoors teaches you is the value of preparation and planning. I am routinely teased by friends and family for over-thinking decisions. This is the result from years of training to plan for the unexpected and account for unknown scenarios. Once you shove off to sea, or set off into the wild, you just better be ready.

What would the title of your autobiography be? “Undeclared,” or “Say What?!”