Tennant, Robert

Dr. Robert Tennant currently serves as a Rating Engineer in the Operations Division of the West Virginia Division of Highways. In this position, he develops load rating policies for the state, provides trainings and support to other divisions and districts, evaluates complex bridges across the state, and assures systematic quality control and quality assurance procedures are used to maintain a high degree of accuracy and consistency in the bridge inspection program. Dr. Tennant earned his doctorate in civil engineering from West Virginia University in August of 2022. 

Dr. Tennant has co-authored many papers published in the Journal of Bridge Engineering, Bridge Structures, the Transportation Research Board, and others. He is actively involved in multiple initiatives across the state of West Virginia in the field of bridge engineering.

Much of Dr. Tennant’s work is in specification drafting and standards development. He has drafted numerous technical documents, guide specifications, and load rating manuals during his time at West Virginia University and the WVDOH. Additionally, he has traveled to multiple conferences to present WVDOH load rating procedures across multiple states.