David Kuehn became the first Program Manager for the FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program. The Program Manager serves as the senior advisor to agency leadership and chair of an intramural coordination group for FHWA research programs; assures communication and coordination of exploratory advanced research activities; develops and implements the Exploratory Advanced Research Program's research agenda and develops; fosters partnerships with other Federal agencies, national scientific societies and organizations, and the academic community in support of the Program; and scans and convenes activities associated with the program. The program focuses on longer term and higher risk research with the potential for transformational improvements to the transportation system.