I was totally bummed out when Philip Shucet, former VDOT chief and one of my 2004 newsmakers, told me he was leaving the industry. I know that many contractors and VDOT folks were pretty unhappy about it too. Shucet was pivotal in turning the reputation of VDOT around and making it an efficient, transparent agency that paid attention to the public and to its contractors. It was still a work in progress when he left, and one contractor told me he wished Shucet would hold off leaving a little longer. But now, Shucet may be back. I turn over my blog this week to let you read his words for yourself.

In mid-2005, when I completed my tenure as the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation, I thought I ended a 33-year career in engineering and construction. Thanks to heavy lifting from the folks at VDOT, I made ENR’s Top 25 Newsmaker list. Not bad for a kid with a History degree. I was ready to move on to a new career.

Well, I thought I was.

I left VDOT and went to work five days later for one Virginia’s most successful residential developers eager to learn a new industry. I joined an outstanding company of folks and learned a lot about the business of finding, acquiring, and rezoning land. I enjoyed opportunities to get out in the field with the men and women who built the homes. I got a kick out of watching them execute the fine points of production building, putting up quality homes with precision. I met home owners and shared in their experience of homeownership. Meeting first-time owners was especially gratifying.

But slowly I sensed a burning passion still alive deep inside of me. A passion for engineering. A passion for construction. A passion for large and complex infrastructure projects. I found myself thinking about bridges crossing the Ohio River and the role I played in building them. I thought about the freeway system in Phoenix and how fortunate I was to be at the Arizona DOT in the thick of things when engineering and construction kicked into high gear in the mid-1980s.

I thought about my career as a consultant. I thought about an abundance of projects and the people that took them from dreams to design to construction.

Even now I still feel the sensation of riding up the pylon to stand out on the crossbeam of the Great Belt East Bridge, 250 meters in the air. I remember how it felt to look out on the sea between Funen and Zealand, Denmark. I recall the long walk down to the bottom of the anchor blocks that keep that same beautiful structure firmly planted.

Close my eyes and I am back at the Oresund Link connecting Denmark and Sweden – inside the tunnel and atop the cable stayed bridge – walking alongside people who designed and built these lasting treasures.

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The Springfield Interchange. Those images are still sharp in my mind. I can even smell them. If you know construction you know what I mean.

Sometimes it takes leaving something to realize how precious it is. Standing back a bit offers fresh, new perspectives.

In the end, the conclusion was clear.

I am returning to the industry that defines me professionally. With complete understanding and support from the folks who gave me a place to land these past 18 months, I am returning to engineering and construction. Where? I don’t know.

It’s a bit nerve wracking to step out without a job. Yet it is liberating as well. For the holidays, I’ll sit back and enjoy my family. Then, come January, I’ll dig in. Wherever I end up, I’m sure about one thing – I’ll be in the engineering and construction business.

I have the greatest respect for the title “engineer.” I know how difficult it is to earn the right to use that title. And, while I can’t call myself “engineer” I’m especially fortunate.

I know who I am.

A History major who claims the right to love engineering. To love construction.

What a grand journey it has been – and will continue to be.