As director of the center, Wittwer is responsible for all general operations of the Center.  He oversees technical and policy research related to improving highway & other transportation facility maintenance, discovering and testing alternative transportation modes and measuring the performance of transportation systems.  He coordinates ongoing educational activities, including the development of the Transportation Management and Policy program and a transportation asset management curriculum, with Associate Director Teresa Adams.  He taught CEE679: Transportation Management and Policy with Dr. Robert Smith, CEE970: Transportation Management and Policy Colloquium and CEE772 Transportation Management and Policy Practicum.  In addition, he is responsible for the creation of technology transfer programs, including the establishment of a Wisconsin Transportation Center and the development of the 4th National Transportation Asset Management Workshop.

A member of the Wisconsin DOT for over 23 years, Wittwer has served in a number of management positions.  He was the Administrator for the Division of Infrastructure Management until November of 2000, a position he held for a little over a year.  In 1995, he was promoted to special assistant to the secretary for policy development, where he coordinated policy and budget development, public information and managed the department. 

Ernie began his career in 1977 as a Management and Budget Analyst.  He served as the Director of the Bureau of Budget and Program Analysis and as Director of the Bureau of Program Management.  He was also involved in highway maintenance and overall management of the Division of Highways.