Secretary/CEO
Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Eileen was born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico. She earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a MS from Mississippi State University. She is the first engineer in her family. Her career includes internships at Walt Disney World, NASA, and her professional career: the US Army Corps of Engineers, private consulting with Kimley-Horn and in 2020, she began a new chapter in her career when she was designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico, as the first woman Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works. She specializes in multi-disciplinary projects with a specialty in airport engineering, project management, emergency response, and business development. Her priorities as Secretary include maximizing federal funding to accelerate the island’s recovery focused on resiliency and long-term maintenance. Recently, she became the first Puerto Rican inducted in the Space Camp Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
The Power of Perseverance: Managing the Unexpected
Thursday, October 24, 2024
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM CT