Jonathan L. Gifford

Jonathan L. Gifford is a Professor at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and an Affiliate Faculty Member in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering. He directs the Center for Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership Policy, supporting research, education, and outreach on P3s and alternative infrastructure delivery methods. His expertise spans infrastructure policy, finance, planning, and institutional frameworks.

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering (Transportation), University of California, Berkeley
• M.S., Civil Engineering (Transportation), University of California, Berkeley
• B.S., Civil Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

His research focuses on public-private partnerships, transportation finance, asset management, and intelligent transportation systems. He has led numerous studies on P3 performance, risk sharing, value for money, and policy design, contributing to federal and state-level decision-making. His work emphasizes institutional innovation, governance, and the socioeconomic impacts of infrastructure investment.

His recent publications explore trends in P3 renegotiations, tolling strategies, bankruptcy in transportation projects, and the role of P3s in climate adaptation. These works reflect a strong emphasis on empirical analysis, policy evaluation, and comparative studies across U.S. and international contexts.

• Fenwick Fellowship, George Mason University (1991–1992)
• Summer Research Award, Graduate School, George Mason University (1991)
• Who’s Who in American Science and Engineering (1999)
• National Associate, National Research Council of the National Academies (2008–, lifetime)

Gifford has advised numerous graduate students and led major research grants from USDOT, VDOT, and other agencies. He is actively involved in training programs for public officials and has presented at international forums including the World Bank and OECD. He contributes to academic leadership through service on TRB committees and as a frequent keynote speaker.

He is affiliated with research centers such as the Mid-Atlantic Center for Integrated Asset Management (CIAMTIS) and leads collaborative teams on infrastructure resilience, procurement innovation, and multimodal planning. His work continues to shape policy and practice in transportation infrastructure delivery.