Robert's work focuses on the broad array of policies and issues related to metropolitan growth and development including transportation and infrastructure, urban planning, growth management, suburban issues, and smart cities.
Prior to joining Brookings, Robert was the director of infrastructure programs at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Virginia where he served on the Alumni Advisory Board, and is an affiliated professor with Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute.
He serves on a variety of boards and committees including, most recently, New York State's 2100 Infrastructure Commission; the District of Columbia's Streetcar Financing and Governance Task Force; the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority's Technical Advisory Committee; the Tysons Corner Tomorrow Advisory Task Force; and the Falls Church, Virginia Planning Commission where he lives with his wife and three sons.