Last fall, when Roads & Bridges began mapping out the 2025 asphalt issue, the editorial staff was urged to seek out the expertise of Buzz Powell.
A Ph.D. and P.E., Powell is a legend in the asphalt industry, and he was kind enough to write two articles for this issue. We want to return the favor by honoring him here. Powell, who serves as the technical director for the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA), has spent his career shaping America’s roads. His wealth of experience in asphalt technology, construction and research spans decades.
His journey from a computer programmer to one of the most respected voices in pavement engineering is a testament to his passion and perseverance. Powell’s first professional role was as a computer programmer for the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), where he helped develop the state’s original pavement management system.
While he found aspects of programming intriguing, he realized his true passion lay in civil engineering—designing and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps the world moving.
Determined to change course, Powell returned to school, earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Auburn University. This decision set him on a path that would eventually lead him to become one of the foremost experts in asphalt pavement research and innovation.
For more than 24 years, Powell dedicated his career to the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University, where he managed the Pavement Test Track.
This unique facility allowed for accelerated pavement testing, enabling researchers to study the long-term performance of various asphalt mixes, thickness designs and preservation techniques. Powell was instrumental in designing, building and rebuilding the test track across eight different research cycles, applying an astounding 80 million Equivalent Single Axle Loadings (ESALs) to hundreds of experimental pavements.
His leadership at NCAT provided invaluable insights into the durability and sustainability of asphalt pavements, helping to refine industry practices and improve road quality. Working with state agencies and private industry, Powell was at the forefront of integrating innovative materials, including reclaimed and recycled elements, into modern pavement designs.
In November 2023, Powell transitioned into his new role as the technical director for the APA.
Originally established in 2000, the APA was primarily focused on marketing and promoting asphalt pavement. However, under new leadership, the organization has shifted its mission toward technical innovation, collaboration and education.
Powell’s role is not to convince people that asphalt is the best option—but to ensure that it is. His primary focus is on advancing quality asphalt pavement through data-driven approaches and strengthening relationships between agencies and industry professionals. His work emphasizes the three pillars of APA’s mission: innovation, collaboration and education.
One of the goals of his job is to deploy effective resources directly to the marketplace and help improve technical competence and trust within the industry. Through the APA, Powell champions the use of cutting-edge tools like Hey NAPA, a digital platform that leverages artificial intelligence to provide engineers with quick and accurate technical information.
He also remains involved in research, contributing to conferences such as the Perpetual Pavement Conference and writing papers that advance the field of pavement engineering.
Powell also is committed to his community. Every Sunday, he volunteers as a campus pastor at Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery, Ala., helping incarcerated individuals find hope and purpose.
His love for mentorship extends beyond ministry. Powell is dedicated to guiding the next generation of engineers, encouraging young professionals to find joy in their work.
Throughout his career, Powell has remained driven by curiosity, a commitment to quality, and a love for the industry that has given him so much. Whether he’s rebuilding a test track, refining asphalt mix designs or mentoring young engineers, his enthusiasm for pavement technology is undeniable.
Powell is not just looking to help the asphalt industry maintain the status quo—he’s aiming to elevate it to new heights. Through his leadership, innovation and unwavering dedication, he continues to leave an indelible mark on the roads we travel every day. Without further ado, here are Powell’s contributions to Roads & Bridges’ asphalt issue. RB
About the Author
Gavin Jenkins, Senior Managing Editor
Senior Managing Editor
Gavin Jenkins is an award-winning journalist based in Pittsburgh. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, VICE, Narrative.ly, Prevention, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Beijing Review.
In 2020, two stories he wrote for Pitt Med Magazine earned three Golden Quill Awards from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania. “Surviving Survival” won Excellence in Corporate, Marketing and Promotional Communications – Written, Medical/Health, while “Oct. 27, 2018: Pittsburgh’s Darkest Day, and the Mass Casualty Response” won Excellence in Written Journalism, Magazines – Medical/Health, as well as the Ray Sprigle Memorial Award: Magazines, a Best in Show award.
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2003, he covered sports for the Bedford Gazette, in Bedford, Pa., and the Martinsville Bulletin, in Martinsville, Va. In 2006, he returned to Pittsburgh to write for Trib Total Media. Based out of the Kittanning Leader Times, he worked for the Trib for two years, and then he moved to Shenzhen, China, to teach English and freelance. After two years in China, he earned an MFA in nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh.
When he's not at work, he's usually playing with his border-collie mix, Bob.