Employee Spotlight

20 Years of Service: Q&A with Fred Luna, Director of Project Delivery & Construction

January 8, 2026

For the past two decades, Fred Luna has been at the center of delivering some of Santa Barbara County’s most complex and consequential regional transportation projects. As SBCAG’s Director of Project Delivery and Construction, Fred is known for his steady leadership, direct communication, and deep commitment to getting the details right—while never losing sight of the people and communities those projects are meant to serve. With a career rooted in engineering and shaped by collaboration, integrity, and hard work, Fred has earned the trust of partners across the region and helped guide projects from early planning through construction and completion.

Reflecting on a Career in Public Service

You joined SBCAG in 2005 and have played a central role in delivering some of the region’s largest infrastructure projects. What first drew you to the world of project delivery and transportation?

I would love to say transportation was part of my plan all along when I studied civil engineering, but that wouldn’t be entirely honest. My first professional job, however, turned out to be a tremendous opportunity—I worked on a major transportation project, the Orange County Toll Roads, in the area where I grew up. That project included three brand-new toll road facilities in eastern and southern Orange County and was an early example of a public-private partnership in transportation. Being part of a project of that scale and complexity sparked an interest in transportation that has stayed with me throughout my career.

Your work spans every phase of the project life cycle—from early design to ribbon-cutting. Is there a particular project or milestone that has been especially meaningful to you?

For reasons that go beyond size or scale, the Highway 101/154 North Junction project near Buellton and Los Olivos stands out as especially meaningful. It was the first project where I served as the sole project manager, which significantly expanded my professional experience. The project’s purpose was straightforward but critical: improve safety by replacing an at-grade intersection—where serious collisions had occurred—with a grade-separated interchange.

Each phase brought its own challenges. The environmental process required careful consideration of cultural resources, agricultural land impacts, and sensitive biological species. The design effort balanced those constraints while still producing a feasible solution. Construction took place during extremely wet winter conditions in 1998, which added another layer of complexity. In the end, the project delivered a lasting safety benefit for the community and the region—and that outcome made all the challenges worthwhile.

Delivering Projects with Purpose

You regularly coordinate with Caltrans, consultants, and local agencies. What have you learned about building strong partnerships that can withstand the pressures of long, complex projects?

Strong partnerships are built on trust and transparency. In my relationships with SBCAG’s partners, I strive to be direct and clear. Transparency creates a foundation for communication, and that communication is what allows a team to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and ultimately deliver a successful project.

Risk management is a critical part of your role. How do you identify potential issues early and keep projects moving forward despite unexpected challenges?

Every major project includes a risk assessment process, where the team evaluates potential risks and their impacts on cost and schedule. Even with that effort, unexpected issues arise—external and internal influences are inevitable. I try to view those moments as sidesteps rather than setbacks. You may not always move straight ahead, but maintaining momentum is what matters most.

Looking to the Future

How do you hope your work over the past two decades will continue to shape how SBCAG delivers projects in the years to come?

I hope SBCAG continues to see value in playing a central role in delivering key projects. A good example is the Measure A flagship project—the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara corridor. SBCAG made a deliberate decision to share delivery responsibilities with Caltrans. That collaboration allowed SBCAG to leverage consultants, build strong relationships with local agencies and the community, and take the lead where it made sense.

This approach required more effort from SBCAG, but it also provided more control. Working side by side with Caltrans, we helped shape the overall vision for the corridor, the implementation strategy, team structure, and division of responsibilities. That collaborative model has been effective, and I believe it sets a strong precedent for future projects.

A Personal Note

What do you enjoy most about coordinating and guiding the team of consultants and agency partners who help deliver these projects?

I have a great deal of respect for the consultant community and the role they play in delivering SBCAG projects. Before joining SBCAG, I spent 17 years as a consultant, which gives me perspective on how consultants approach their work and how to best leverage their expertise.

The teams we assemble are highly professional and skilled, and I’ve heard many times that working with SBCAG is viewed as a valued opportunity. Bringing together consultants, local agency partners, and Caltrans around a shared purpose is extremely rewarding. That sense of teamwork and common goal is a big reason SBCAG projects are successful.

Behind the Scenes

Twenty years brings countless stories—can you share a memorable or defining moment from your time at SBCAG that stands out?

One experience that has stayed with me reinforces why transportation projects matter. These are public works projects with real, tangible benefits for people. During the Highway 101/154 interchange project, I developed a relationship with a gentleman who had lost his son at the intersection. He became a strong advocate for the project and later thanked SBCAG for its role in improving safety.

Because I lived near the project, I would continue to see him around town years after completion—at soccer fields and community events. The connection remained. I still have a handwritten card from him expressing gratitude, not just to honor his son’s memory, but to help prevent similar tragedies. That reminder of why we do this work has stayed with me.

What’s one thing people might not know about you that has influenced your approach to leadership, collaboration, or project delivery?

I’ve always believed in leading by example—knowing the subject matter, doing the work, and contributing as part of a team. Collaboration isn’t optional; it’s essential. For much of my time at SBCAG, I’ve served as a central point for project delivery, working closely with other SBCAG divisions, Caltrans, and local agency partners. That role has reinforced the importance of execution, communication, and shared responsibility—internally and externally.