CIR Advisory Panel Board Member. Served as Past Panel Chair

John Barton brings over 30 years of leadership experience in both public service and private industry to his role as Lead Operations at Texas A&M-RELLIS, the Texas A&M University System’s premier applied research campus.

He previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, where he played a key role in launching the RELLIS campus and supporting statewide recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey.

Before rejoining the A&M System, Barton was Senior Vice President at HNTB, leading national transportation initiatives and serving as Professional Services Chair. He also chaired the CIR Advisory Panel for several years, stepping down in 2023.

Barton retired as Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation after a distinguished 30-year career, earning recognition from AASHTO, FHWA, ARTBA, and the Governor’s Office. A proud Aggie, he graduated with honors in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and is a Distinguished Graduate of the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering.

He continues to serve on national boards focused on transportation safety and innovation.