Nigel Astell has joined design firm WSP as intercity rail and strategy leader in Washington, D.C. He now oversees major project delivery and strategic development across all transit and rail markets. Previously, Astell worked for global engineer Parsons in Washington as a vice president for transportation project management and business development. He has overseen or supported communications-based control projects in the U.S. and U.K.

Professional services firm STV has named Leslie “Les” Shepherd as vice president and market sector leader for federal civilian programs in its national buildings group. In this role, he oversees federal civilian agency clients. Shepherd was principal and national director of GSA programs for design firm Leo A Daly and director of planning at EYP. Also a 28-year veteran of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), he had a 12-year tenure as chief architect, overseeing the design of 160 projects totaling $16 billion in value, STV said. As deputy chief architect, he also was instrumental in updating the Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service (P100) in 1999, which mandated all major GSA projects to adopt Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Shepherd is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

A. Morton Thomas and Associates Inc. has named Steven Pomykata western Pennsylvania group leader associate in Pittsburgh. He heads the region’s transportation work. Previously, Pomykata was a senior engineering manager for GAI Consultants Inc., working on Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission projects.

Chicago-headquartered Clune Construction Co. has promoted Caitlin Harris to vice president and regional safety director in Vienna, Va. She had been a firm safety director based in another region.

Design firm Leo A Daly has named Pam Bothwell director of business development in its Washington, D.C., design studio. She had been owner and principal of Pam Bothwell LLC, a design firm headquartered in the U.S. capital.

Herbert Rowland & Grubic Inc., an infrastructure consulting firm, has opened offices in Hagerstown, Md., and Fayette County, Pa. Bill Kick, an assistant vice president, now heads the Maryland office. James Feath, an assistant vice president in Pittsburgh, now manages the Fayette County office. He also oversees the firm’s general operation in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Ronnie Weeks has joined Cape Fox Mountain Point LLC in Chantilly, Va., as director of its civil construction division. He had been director of operations for SES Civil Engineering Inc. and vice president of MRW Construction Services Unlimited Inc. Cape Fox Mountain Point is a subsidiary of the Chantilly, Va.-based Cape Fox federal contracting group.

Michelle Buonacuore has joined HNTB as a construction services manager to lead transit and rail programs for Amtrak and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, based in Philadelphia. She is a former WSP construction manager who had a key role in its work to upgrade Amtrak’s Lancaster, Pa., station and on its New Jersey high-speed rail improvement program as well as on SEPTA’s Ardmore Transit Center, HNTB said.