JEFFERSON CITY - Dave Nichols has been named chief engineer of the Missouri Department of Transportation. MoDOT Director Kevin Keith made the announcement in an e-mail to employees earlier today.

Nichols has served as MoDOT's director of program delivery since 2000. He has been with MoDOT since 1984. During his 27-year career with MoDOT, Nichols has served in a variety of leadership roles including district engineer for the department's northwest district, headquartered in St. Joseph. He has also worked in MoDOT's Kansas City district.

"Dave is the kind of leader we need in these challenging times," said Keith. "He has earned the respect of MoDOT employees and our public partners through his unwavering integrity, openness and ability to accomplish great things."

The chief engineer reports to the director of MoDOT and is second in the line of authority. Nichols fills the vacancy left by Keith's promotion from the chief engineer position to director in November 2010.

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