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In May 2025, Patrick Norman became chief engineer of the N.C. Department of Transportation. As chief engineer, he manages and directs the engineering program activities of NCDOT’s 14 highway divisions, Transportation Mobility and Safety Division, the Central Units and the Technical Services Division.
He is a registered professional engineer and has held several positions at NCDOT during his 24-year career, including chief engineer for the Department’s Turnpike Authority. In this role, Norman oversaw all design, permitting, pre-construction, construction, maintenance, operations and asset management.
Previously, Norman worked as Highway Division 8 engineer, where he managed all highway related activities for an eight-county region in the central part of the state. During this time, he worked closely with the N.C. Department of Commerce to recruit several of the state’s largest ever economic development projects, including two large production facilities in Chatham County and a large battery manufacturing facility in Randolph County. Patrick still represents NCDOT as a member of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s Certified Sites Committee
He has also served in various central office and field unit positions throughout NCDOT, including division staff engineer, assistant district engineer, county maintenance engineer, district engineer, division operations engineer, transportation planning branch manager, director of planning and programming, and director of highway operations. Prior to coming to NCDOT, he worked briefly in the private sector for a small land development planning and design firm in the Charlotte/Lake Norman area.
Norman earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at N.C. State University and is a graduate of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ National Transportation Leadership Institute, NCDOT’s Legacy Leadership Program and the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association’s Leadership Academy.
He and his wife, Amber, have one daughter, Kate, and two dogs.