Deepak Benny, PhD candidate at Purdue University's Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, was selected to participate in the 2025 Leaders Development Conference (LDC) organized by the Eno Center for Transportation in Washington, D.C. This prestigious, week-long fellowship brought together a select cohort of 17 graduate students from across the country to explore how national transportation policy is formed, debated, and implemented at the highest levels of government.

Funded by the Thomas Larson Scholarship and supported by Samuel Labi, Professor in Lyles School, Deepak's participation in the conference offered invaluable exposure to the policymaking ecosystem and a first-hand understanding of the forces shaping America's transportation future. The conference featured in-depth sessions with senior officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), industry leaders, and advocates from both the public and private sectors.

One of the standout experiences of the week was a Capitol Hill Briefing, where participants engaged with congressional staff and policy influencers, followed by a mock Senate markup session conducted in an actual hearing room. Here, students assumed roles as senators and advocates, negotiating a mock surface transportation reauthorization bill—an immersive exercise that underscored the complexity and nuance of federal transportation legislation. The agenda also included rich discussions on freight logistics, infrastructure resiliency, system safety strategies, and the intersection of advocacy and public policy.

Reflecting on his experience, Deepak noted:

“The LDC provided an unparalleled window into the inner workings of transportation policy. From walking the halls of Capitol Hill to engaging with thought leaders at USDOT and APTA, this experience has broadened my perspective on the critical role engineers play in shaping not just infrastructure, but the very policies that govern our transportation systems.”

The LDC has a 25-year legacy of shaping future transportation leaders, and Deepak’s participation continues Purdue’s proud tradition of contributing to national thought leadership in civil and transportation engineering.

For more information about the Eno Leaders Development Conference, visit https://enotrans.org/article/eno-announces-2025-leaders-development-conference-class