Blake Whitman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science  at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville. Blake earned his Ph.D. (2018), M.S. (2014), and B.S. (2012) in civil engineering from Auburn University.  His industry work experience includes time as a Project Management overseeing heavy civil construction within the private construction industry, as well as with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  While working with the Corps of Engineers, Blake developed and implemented a methodology for surveying and analyzing MS4 infrastructures at Fort Benning, GA. His masters research focused on determining the state-of-the-practice for construction site logistics optimization and planning. His doctoral research at the Auburn University - Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility focused on the enhancement of  sediment barrier standard practices for the Alabama Department of Transportation, as well as the analysis of innovative and manufactured sediment barrier practices.