Who We Are
HASS COE brings together the knowledge across USDOT, academia, and industry on highly automated transportation systems, exploring new technologies and their potential impact on safety. Based in the USDOT Office of Research and Technology, our office and its expert staff enhance and complement the capabilities of each USDOT Operating Administration, especially in areas where automation intersects across multiple transportation modes. Through partnerships with academia and industry, we help share a national framework for highly automated systems, securing a safer future for today and tomorrow.
About
Vision
Ensure the safe integration of automation into the multimodal transportation system for the good of all Americans.
Mission
Provide technical expertise, support education, and foster collaboration across the transportation community for reviewing, assessing, and validating the safety of highly automated transportation system technologies.
Values
Safety: We are driven to help achieve safety and critical benefits for the traveling public now and into the future.
Innovation: We seek out progressive ideas and aim to anticipate and positively influence how transportation uses automation. We pair curiosity with expertise to provide insight and ideas for what lies ahead.
Collaboration: We foster internal and external partnerships that augment opportunities, resilient systems, and success for all involved.
Respect: We operate with teamwork and transparency. We ask and we listen. We appreciate diverse experiences and perspectives.
Excellence: We continuously strive to provide exemplary knowledge, expertise, and perspective to our stakeholders and collaborators within and beyond U.S. DOT and to fulfill our Congressional mandate to the fullest.
Congressional Mandate
Created by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94; December 20, 2019), HASS COE provides support and partnership to USDOT Operating Administrations in reviewing, assessing, and validating the safety of highly automated systems. Congress directed HASS COE to offer a USDOT-wide expert resource on the safety implications of highly automated systems, integrating expertise in artificial intelligence, computer science, data analytics, machine learning, sensors, and other technologies.
Team
The HASS COE team is made up of leaders from government, academia, and industry who bring extensive, new kinds of expertise to USDOT resources. Our senior-level specialists bring insight and perspective, operating in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary model across subjects and skillsets.
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12 specialists (as of Dec 2024)
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20+ avg. years of experience
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86% expertise from outside USDOT
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57% talent distributed beyond Washington, D.C.
Leadership

Taylor Lochrane, Ph.D., P.E.
Director, HASS COE
taylor.lochrane@dot.gov
Dr. Taylor Lochrane is the Director of the Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS COE). Dr. Lochrane is an esteemed leader with two decades of experience in both the federal and private sectors. He is recognized nationally as an innovative entrepreneur in the fields of transportation, safety, automation, and research. Dr. Lochrane recently served as the Deputy Director and Chief Scientist for HASS COE. In this role, he was responsible for establishing the office and leading the team of national experts with the vision to be a national resource for expertise, research, and global leadership in advancing the safe deployment of automation in transportation. Dr. Lochrane's leadership skills have allowed him to successfully review, assess, and validate highly automated systems for safety on behalf of USDOT. Prior to joining HASS COE, Dr. Lochrane served as the Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA) Program Manager at the Federal Highway Administration, where he was responsible for managing the development of CARMA, part of a USDOT effort to accelerate the research and development of CDA. Dr. Lochrane is also known for his expertise in leveraging open-source software and using agile software development practices to accelerate innovative concepts aimed to increase the safety and improve the overall infrastructure efficiency of the transportation system. Dr. Lochrane received a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, M.S. in Civil Engineering and Transportation Systems, and B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida.

Joshua Every, Ph.D.
Acting Deputy Director and Senior Scientist, HASS COE
joshua.every@dot.gov
Dr. Joshua Every is the Acting Deputy Director and a Senior Scientist at the USDOT Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS COE) specializing in testing and evaluation for highly automated systems. Dr. Every provides technical and programmatic leadership for the development and implementation of tools, techniques, and methods for the safe assessment of automation system performance across all modes of transportation. He previously served as Executive Director for Operations for Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), supporting highly automated systems testing and evaluation activities and leading organizational development to prepare TRC for future testing needs. As the first Director of the Advanced Mobility Division at TRC, he oversaw growth from four founding members to more than 20 engineers, technicians, and project managers, and built a strong base of industry clients. Dr. Every was instrumental in the construction of the SMARTCenter, a new facility to support safe testing and evaluation of highly automated systems. He led the development of the technical capabilities to assess automated driving systems and delivered facility management, testing, and research services for a wide portfolio of government and industry clients. Dr. Every also supported the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s Vehicle Research Test Center, where he focused on automated driving test procedures and safety measures, including completing research in heavy vehicle dynamics and active safety systems. Dr. Every received a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Denise Bakar
Communications Manager, HASS COE
denise.bakar@dot.gov
Denise is the Communications Manager at the USDOT Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS COE). She leads strategic communications and partnerships, developing engagement strategies that help build collaborations and coalitions critical to the HASS mission of serving as a USDOT-wide expert resource on the safety implications of highly automated systems. Denise also serves as the Communications Manager for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Interagency Working Group, which was established by Congress and is spearheading efforts to develop a national strategy for AAM. Previously, Denise was a manager at Deloitte, where she developed and led the execution of high-visibility brand and organizational change strategies for big technology companies invested in autonomous mobility. Denise also led communications and developed program strategies for the Federal Highway Administration Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory and the CARMA Program, where she implemented an integrated approach that generated triple-digit growth in engagements and partnerships. She has developed global marketing strategies for luxury car brands, nonprofit organizations, professional athletes, and media personalities. Denise received an MBA from the George Washington University, an M.A. in Strategic Communication from American University, and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.
Staff

Kristy Frizzell
Executive Assistant
kristy.frizzell@dot.gov

Jason JonMichael
Senior Strategist
jason.jonmichael@dot.gov

Mubassira Khan, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
mubassira.khan@dot.gov

Daniel LeMaster, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
daniel.lemaster@dot.gov

Wassim Najm, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
wassim.najm@dot.gov

Ashley Nylen, PMP
Senior Strategist
ashley.nylen@dot.gov

Steve Sill, P.E., PMP
Senior Scientist
steve.sill@dot.gov

Huafeng Yu, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
huafeng.yu@dot.gov
Visiting Experts

Neil Chaudhry
Senior Advisor
On detail from PHMSA Office of Planning and Analytics
anil.chaudhry@dot.gov
Alumni & Emeritus

Éva Clinkscale
Assistant Director and Program Manager
(Alumni)

Prasad Gupte
Senior Strategist
(Alumni)

Daniel "Dan" Jung
Acting Deputy Director and Senior Strategist
(Alumni)

Derek Morgan
Senior Scientist
(Alumni)

Christopher Nassif
Senior Scientist
(Alumni)

Tricia Sergeson
Acting Assistant Director and Program Manager
(Alumni)

Robert "Bob" Sheehan
Acting Deputy Director
(Alumni)

Eric Raamot
Senior Strategist
(Alumni)

Sarasina Tuchen
Senior Scientist
(Retired Emeritus)
Contact Us
Denise Bakar
Communications Manager
denise.bakar@dot.gov
General Inquiries
hass-coe@dot.gov

