As UCLA Transportation’s fleet acquisition specialist, Tom Poveromo has basically been behind the wheel of every single vehicle the university has procured over the past 27 years. During that time, close to 4,000 vehicles have rolled off the assembly line and become mobile assets for UCLA.

They include the Bruin Buggy that pops up at campus events, a self-powering research vehicle for Mojave Desert studies, as well as police cars, ambulances, fire vehicles and UCLA Health mobile units that provide critical care to community members in LA County.

A recent project, which Poveromo said is the most exciting he’s ever worked on, was for UCLA Health Head Start’s “preschool on wheels,” which rolled out this May.

Poveromo works closely with campus partners to ensure he understands what they’re looking for.

“It’s not my job just to buy a vehicle and hand over the keys,” he said. “It’s my job to make sure it’s functioning well and meets your needs.”

Referencing MacGyver, the iconic TV character known for his resourcefulness, Poveromo shared that many moving parts make every build different, and working with automotive industry providers allows him to think outside the box and explore. Going electric is always a priority to reduce transportation-related emissions.

“For campus partners, during consultations, I never tell them no. I say let’s see what we could do,” Poveromo said. “I believe anything can be done at any time. We’ve succeeded with some pretty creative things.”

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