Donald Streeter’s career journey has taken him down an unexpected path: from carpentry to engineering—primarily focusing on concrete. “My father and grandfather taught me all kinds of carpentry skills,” he remembers, “and what I didn’t learn from them I picked up from others. I never shied away from getting my hands dirty.”

While still in high school, Streeter helped a family friend in his hometown of Clifton Park, New York, restore a house that was more than 200 years old. “This neighbor worked for the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) and thought my carpentry skills and desire to become an engineer would be a good fit at the department,” he recalls.

Streeter began his engineering education at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. However, while looking for a summer job, he decided to follow his neighbor’s suggestion and applied for a position at New York State DOT. “I was an office machine operator, and my sole duties were to produce blueprints using an ammonia solution,” he explains. Others noticed his capabilities and ambition, and he was soon elevated to construction inspector. After graduating in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering, he landed a job as a field engineer at Albany, New York’s Clough Harbour and Associates. There, he worked on airport, highway, and demolition projects; residential and commercial developments; underground storage facilities; and a communications system.

In May 1988, Streeter returned to New York State DOT as a civil engineer, where he was a designer responsible for the preliminary and final design of numerous highway projects. After a few years, he became an engineer-in-charge for bridge construction and replacement projects.

Courtesy of Donald A. Streeter

In 1992, with concrete materials becoming his specialty in New York State DOT’s Materials Bureau, Streeter developed its High-Performance Concrete (HPC) Program, provided education and training within the department, and worked with FHWA nationally to promote HPC. While still at New York State DOT, he moved into academia as an adjunct professor at the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York. For six years, he developed curricula and taught a class in Basic Construction Materials (covering aggregates, concrete, and hot-mix asphalt) and a senior-level course in concrete mixture development and construction. “I especially enjoyed teaching college students and helping promote engineering among other youth,” he says.

Streeter retired from New York State DOT in May 2019 and founded DA Streeter Engineering, a consulting firm in which he advises various organizations, agencies, and contractors. He continues his involvement in training and education, including serving on the Capital District Engineer’s Week Committee, helping with New York’s Skate4Concrete program, and training and certifying others through the Northeast Transportation Training and Certification Program and the American Concrete Institute. A few years later, he became the vice president of the New York Construction Materials Association’s Concrete Division, where he provides technical support to members and coordinates with state agencies and other industry partners to advance innovation and use of various concrete materials, mixtures, and technologies. “It’s been 43 years since I started working in the transportation field,” Streeter notes, “and I’m now more interested in directing than doing. I very much enjoy sharing my wisdom, usually explaining my errors and faults so others don’t make the same mistakes.” One part of that wisdom is based on advice he received decades before: “A man I worked for told me, ‘It’s OK to make mistakes. Just try not to make big ones, and don’t make the same mistakes twice.’ ” Streeter adds, “It also doesn’t help if you share only what worked or the end results.”

“We are in an age of growth. While concrete and concrete materials aren’t considered sexy, the importance they have on society is great. Concrete is the second most used building product on Earth, next to water. Industry efforts to make it more durable and sustainable will have a huge impact on what happens to our world for centuries to come. The people leading the research have numerous variables to deal with. This means there are unending opportunities for topics of research.”

—Donald A. Streeter

Over the years, Streeter has also shared his expertise with TRB, where he has presented at the TRB Annual Meeting and served as chair of various committees and National Cooperative Highway Research Program panels. During an earlier strategic realignment, he volunteered to serve as chair of the former Materials Section. “Despite the challenges of getting what are sometimes competing industries—asphalt and concrete—to work together and find common benefit,” Streeter professes, “I’m very proud of being part of that effort.” Over time, the focus on materials decreased. “With fewer people involved and the committees that deal with materials having such broad objectives,” he says, “the importance of sharing past knowledge is greater than ever.”

That knowledge network—and the camaraderie that comes with it—have become some of the most important benefits Streeter gains from his involvement with TRB at this stage of his career. “From my early days with TRB, I’ve made connections nationally that have lasted,” he declares. “I’m available for many of these folks anytime they call, and vice versa. Some have become close friends.”

Streeter’s generosity in sharing knowledge and advice extends to younger colleagues starting in the concrete materials field: “Get dirty, try new things, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”

“We learn more from mistakes than we do successes, so push the boundaries.”

—Donald A. Streeter