Debra Bezzina

Debra Bezzina is the UMTRI Engineering Systems Group Head and Managing Director of both the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Environment (AACE) and the Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT). For nearly 15 years, Bezzina has led the deployment of connected vehicle technology, guiding its evolution from DSRC to C-V2X and helping shape the industry standards that now define the field. Her work deploying and validating connected vehicle systems has laid the foundation for much of today’s national infrastructure — in total, she has overseen more than $80 million in connected vehicle technology and systems in Ann Arbor.

AACE comprises three concurrent, federally funded projects representing over $33 million in investment to build this foundational digital infrastructure:

• Smart Intersections Project: equipping 21 intersections with C-V2X roadside units (RSUs) and perception systems that broadcast Sensor Data Sharing Messages (SDSM), delivering day-one safety benefits to equipped vehicles.
• AACE 2.0: expanding C-V2X RSU deployment to a total of 75 units across Ann Arbor.
• City of Ann Arbor Near-Miss Video Analytics System: helping the city identify high-risk locations, understand movement patterns, and inform recommendations for improving intersection safety.

As Managing Director of CCAT, the USDOT Region 5 University Transportation Center, Bezzina leads an organization whose mission is to advance next-generation transportation systems in safety, mobility, and cybersecurity. CCAT provides national and regional leadership in connected and automated transportation research, education, training, and deployment — offering a boutique environment within the foundation of the globally renowned University of Michigan.

Bezzina’s track record reflects not only technical innovation but the ability to deliver systems that agencies can operate, trust, and expand. As USDOT advances its Interstate Digital Corridors Initiative, digital infrastructure will play a critical role in its success. Through AACE’s deployments, Bezzina and her team have demonstrated that this kind of infrastructure is not aspirational — it is a proven reality, and what has been deployed so far only scratches the surface of its potential to improve safety and mobility on the nation’s streets. Above all, her work has shown that progress at this scale requires partnership between academia, industry, and government.

Expertise: Connected vehicle technologies and systems (C-V2X, V2X, V2N) · Real-world deployments and data collection · Program management