Rossana G. D’Antonio
Bio:
Rossana D’Antonio is Executive Director for NV5, a global consulting firm, where she is responsible for identifying client needs and shaping resilient communities for both the public and private sector supporting infrastructure, utility, and building systems. With over three decades in government, she served as Deputy Director for Los Angeles County Public Works, the largest department of public works in the nation. Ms. D’Antonio is an expert in infrastructure design, development of sustainable communities, resilient housing, disaster mitigation, and emergency management. She has expertise in STEM, navigating the political environment of government, and addressing communities with diverse interests.
Ms. D’Antonio was appointed to serve on President Biden’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) Disaster Response and Resiliency Subcommittee. The Subcommittee has been tasked by the White House to assess and develop recommendations to reimagine the federal government’s approach to disaster response. Her expertise includes policy development and hazard mitigation programs to enhance community resilience in response to climate crisis, natural and other human-made disasters. As an infrastructure subject matter expert, she has collaborated with the National League of Cities to assist communities in becoming more competitive in securing some of the $1.2 trillion authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to address sustainable infrastructure needs.
In 2020, Ms. D’Antonio was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to the Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. She is a Fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers, serves as a member of the Board of Directors, and advocates for public safety through infrastructure investments. Ms. D’Antonio also co-authored several papers for technical publications and has made presentations at professional conferences.
Ms. D’Antonio received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Fresno State and an MBA with emphasis in leadership and organizational development from Pepperdine University. She holds dual registrations in the State of California in Civil and Geotechnical Engineering. She is credentialed as an Envision Sustainability Professional with the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure, a nationally recognized organization for civil infrastructure.
Ms. D’Antonio believes strongly in giving back to the profession. She is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and the American Public Works Association. She is a passionate advocate for infrastructure safety, Latina and women’s rights, and social justice. She co-founded the Los Angeles County Women’s Leadership Conference with a mission to empower women that attracts over 1000 attendees annually. As an advocate of increasing female representation in the STEM fields, she makes presentations to high school and college students.
She has been featured as a guest on radio, digital media, and is published in print and online.
Ms. D’Antonio is the author of the forthcoming book titled Tailspin: A Memoir about Flying and Crashing, Grief and Blame scheduled for publication in May 2025. Part memoir, part expose, Tailspin is a quest for answers as to the true cause of the TACA Flight 390 tragedy. While on this journey she discovers a culture that is too quick to conclude pilot error and an aviation industry experiencing alarming systemic weaknesses, willing to take risks with lives in order to get the planes back up in the sky.
Social Media
LinkedIn -- linkedin.com/in/rossanadantonio
X (formerly Twitter) -- @RossanaDAntonio
Instagram – rossanagdantonio
