My first Transportation Research Board (TRB) conference was in January 1979 with graduate students of University of Texas (UT) at Austin. We rent two recreational vehicles (RVs) from Austin, Texas to the TRB Sheraton hotel, and joined UT faculty and other delegates. It was eye-popping experience, and continued participating all annual meetings thereafter. However, I could not meet (and/or identify) any Korean or Korean-American transportation professionals first several years. Fortunately, I met at least three senior transportation professionals in 1980s, i.e., Prof. Robert Bumjung Lee of New York Polytech U and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Dr. Junho Byun of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and VP Myunghak Sung of Gannett Fleming, Inc. Naturally, we met in the Sheraton hotel (now Marriot) lobby and restaurants in front of the hotel with various topics. I remember some of stories, i.e., how Prof. Robert Lee started his junior faculty life, how he wrote a text book of “Traffic Engineering” with Prof. Pignataro and how he worked for Korea including bus operation management system etc.; How Dr. Byun married to younger sister of one of my classmate, Prof. Uewan Cho of University of Missouri at Columbia, and how meaning to work for US federal government etc; and how VP Sung explored his consulting works in Pennsylvania and the US, etc. Actually, I even visited Dr. Byun’s beautiful house with my wife in Columbia, MD. Yes, so far it appears to be a kind of pre-KOTAA or history. Then, I met with one of my best friends, Prof. Myungsoon Chang of Texas A&M University and later Hanyang University, and he joined the above three seniors. Prof. Chang and I did not meet only for the meals in the restaurant but also drinking and lots of talks in my hotel room. We felt that we could have an official gathering mechanism and/or organization, i.e., later KOTAA. Sooner or later, more Korean and Korean-American transportation professionals participated in TRB conference, e.g., Prof. Kuyungwoo Kang of Hanyang University and Dr. Hosin David Lee of Washington State University later University of Utah. Actually, some of them went the second drink or third one which I could not join that late.

If my memory is correct, the first KOTAA meeting was in January 1990 and we elected Prof. Robert Lee as our founding President. Since we need some financial support at the beginning of any organization, he provided most of them which we really appreciated. Prof. Robert Lee served as President, Dr. Byun as VP and myself as Secretary/Treasurer for 4 years. Then, in 1994 Dr. Byun became the 2nd President, Mr. Sung as VP and myself as Secretary/Treasurer. Since VP Sung could not serve as President due to his personal reason, I became the 3rd President in 1997. I remember that the bylaw was revised, and established a foundation to further the cause of research in the transportation engineering field by providing fellowships to enable students to present scholarly papers at national meetings of transportation engineers, and to promote and encourage student participation in KOTAA and TRB activities. Actually, it was possible because of excellent staff, particularly, Secretary/Treasurer, Ms. Soojung Jung of University of Maryland. Because she was in Washington DC area, we had KOTAA annual meeting and dinner at the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers (KSEA) building, in Vienna, VA. She arranged tour bus from TRB Hotel to KSEA building, and Korean delegates for International Road Federation (IRF) led by Dr. Keunhan Kim were able to make special presentations and interaction with KOTTA members. This may be one of her superior contribution to KOTAA and K-A societies. I remember that she was not only excellent in managing KOTAA matters but also was very good in golfing. As a small token of our appreciation, I took her dinners several times and played golf in DC area a couple of times with my personal fund. However, I unfortunately learned that she changed her professional career path other than transportation some years later. We are missing her but wish her best success on whatever she pursues.

Although most senior members including VP Sung suggested leading KOTTA beyond 1998, I insisted for Mr. Sung to become the 4th President and Dr. Hosin Lee as VP in 1999 in accordance with the Bylaw, i.e., the term of officers would be 2 years. I trust that this will pave the way for the rest of KOTAA. In 2001, Prof. Hosin David Lee of University of Iowa became the 5th President and Prof. Youngsoo Richard Kim of North Carolina State University as VP.

Since I agree with the request from the 13th KOTTA President, Prof. Sang Soo Kim, I drafted this history quickly. Since more and more of new young members are joining KOTAA, this may help KOTAA for the long-term sustainability. If there is any error, please feel to contact me, and we will revise it accordingly. Thank you and wish you a productive and prosperous New Year!

Kang-Won Wayne Lee, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE