Kathy Liebler                         Manager of Public Information

    C   O   M   M   I   S   S   I   O   N                N   E   W   S             R   E   L   E   A   S   E

August 18, 1997

    Contact: Lowman S. Henry
 (717) 939-9551 Ext. # 2934

WALLETT NAMED TURNPIKE'S NEW DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE

Harrisburg. PA -- Robert M. Wallett, previously Director of Environment for Headquarters U.S. Air Force, has been hired as the new Director of Maintenance for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. In his new job, Wallett will administer a $49 million budget and will supervise the maintenance of the Turnpike's 506 miles of roadway.

"Maintenance is one of the core functions of the Turnpike's operations," said Turnpike Commission Chairman James F. Malone, III. "I'm tremendously pleased that we have an individual of Mr. Wallett's education, background and experience coming on board to take over our maintenance operations."

Wallett, in his post with Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Office of The Civil Engineer in Washington D.C., oversaw comprehensive environmental programs totaling $1 billion annually and directed a team of 45 professionals including engineers, scientists, planners and financial managers.

During his military career, Wallett also served as Chief of the Environmental Compliance Division in the Office of the Civil Engineer, as Commander and Base Civil Engineer for the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, as an Executive Officer in the Office of the Civil Engineer, as Chief of the Environmental Restoration Division, as Vice Commander of the 554th Civil Engineer Red Horse Squadron at Osan Air Force Base in South Korea and in various major command and installation engineering assignments.

At the Turnpike, Wallett will direct the Maintenance Department's work force and will coordinate highway, bridge, facilities and tunnel maintenance activities throughout the Turnpike system. He will be involved in planning and will be responsible for ensuring that overall maintenance objectives are met at the Division and District levels.

Wallett received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976, then earned his Master of Science in Facility Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1980. In 1984, he obtained a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University and graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. in 1993.

He is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and the Sigma Lota Epsilon Honorary Management Fraternity. Wallett received the American Defense Preparedness Association Award for Outstanding Industrial Base Research from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1993. He and his wife, Patricia Jean (Shoop) Wallett, are pleased to be back in Pennsylvania on a permanent basis. Both are natives of Huntingdon County.

"The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission recently adopted an ambitious 12-year capital improvement plan which will place many demands on the Maintenance Department," said Wallett. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of implementing the Turnpike's planned new projects while at the same time working to ensure the existing facilities live up to the high standards travelers have come to expect from our nation's first superhighway."

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         P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676         Phone: (717) 939-9551         Fax: (717) 986-9649