Justin Hernandez was announced as the Director of Design for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in April 2024. In this newly-created role, he will oversee the design of vital transportation projects statewide. Hernandez has served as State Bridge Engineer since 2021 where he directly coordinated the design and construction for both local and state-owned bridge structures across Oklahoma. His career with ODOT began in 2002 as an engineer in training. In 2003, he joined Bridge Division as a design engineer. In 2011, Hernandez transitioned to be a project engineer for field districts in central, north-central and northwest Oklahoma. He was then named assistant bridge engineer in 2016.

Hernandez contributed to the department’s achievement of a Top Ten national ranking for highway bridge conditions, helping improve from a low ranking of 49th in 2004 to 5th in 2021.

Hernandez has been responsible for the design of bridge projects of all types, in locations across the state, including the Pharaoh Award-winning SH-33 bridge over Cottonwood Creek in Guthrie.

Hernandez received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 2001.

He and his wife, Alexandra, live in Oklahoma City with their two children. Hernandez enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and being outdoors. He also enjoys volunteering at his children’s school coaching and assisting in various school activities.