David Orr

Director, Cornell Local Roads Program

Senior Extension Associate, Biological and Environmental Engineering

About

David P. Orr, PE, PhD. is Director / Senior Engineer for the Cornell University Local Roads Program, the New York State LTAP Center. With over 30 years in the local highway community, David has experiences covering the gamut from the field to the office and from storms to sunny days. He has a broad range of expertise and experience in highway engineering and construction, including design, inspection, project management, purchasing, budgeting and supervision.

He was the 2018-2019 President of NLTAPA, the association of 52 LTAP & TTAP Centers located across the county. Before joining the Program, he worked for eight years at the Yates County Highway Department. He is a licensed professional engineer in New York State and has Ph.D. on local roads from Cornell University.

Education

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, Cornell University, May 2005, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 1999-2000

Major: Local Roads Minors: Biometry and Structural Mechanics

Thesis: Seasonal Variations of In Situ Materials Properties in New York State

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, State of New York, September 1993

Continuing Education Professional Development Hours, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2019

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, Cornell University, May 1987, Civil and Environmental Engineering, McMullen Scholar

NATIONAL HIGHWAY INSTITUTE, FHWA,

April 2015 (IDC Workshop), June 2017, Certified Instructor # 0847

Recent Research

David’s time at Cornell is split between extension and research with a focus on low volume roads and seasonal effects on pavements. He interacts with local, state and national partners and works closely with CLRP customers and provides technical assistance to highway and public works officials in New York State.

Awards & Honors

National Local Technical Assistance Program Association National Achievement Award (2019)
NYS Association of Town Superintendents of Highways VISION Award (2019)
Outstanding Cooperative Extension Program at Cornell University (1998 & 2018)
Outstanding Service to Biological and Environmental Engineering Department (2002)
AAA New York Community Traffic Safety Award, Outstanding Program (2006)
Tompkins County (New York), Tourism Partner Award for Annual Highway School (2012)
National Roadway Safety Award, Roadway Safety Foundation & FHWA (2013)
Cornell and City of Ithaca Town-Gown Award with City of Ithaca DPW (2015)

Courses Taught

Dr. Orr, PE, brings his extension background to two classes for engineering students. He leads the class BEE/ENGRG 5330 which helps students pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, the first step to becoming a professional engineer. The class also includes real world case studies and insights on what is takes to be a professional engineer. CEE 3410 covers the principles and practices of geotechnical engineering and deals with soil as an engineering material in civil and environmental applications.

His courses include:

BEE/ENGRG 5330 Engineering Professionalism
CEE 3410 Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

Contact Information

416 Riley-Robb Hall

Ithaca, NY 14853

(607) 255-8033

david.orr [at] cornell.edu

- NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program