FHWA’s Jerry DiMaggio to Retire

Mr. DiMaggio will remain at his current position through Friday, October 3rd of 2008. The new position will involve a very broad technical scope covering all disciplines related to surface transportation research. His focused responsibilities “are related to mainstreaming of technology development and deployment products and systems under this National research program.”

From a 2007 LRFD course agenda for which he was a co-instructor:

Jerry A. DiMaggio, P.E. is Principal Bridge Engineer – Geotechnical and National Program Manager with the U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration in Washington D.C.  He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University in New York State and is a registered professional engineer in several states.  Mr. DiMaggio is a certified Master Trainer and licensed Contract Arbitrator (AAA). He has provided consulting technical design and construction assistance on over 900 transportation projects in all 50 states, throughout Central and South America, and several Middle Eastern countries.  He has presented over 300 seminars and workshops for professionals on design and construction of bridges, retaining walls and engineered earthworks.

Mr. DiMaggio is currently a member of several national committees and task forces for the development of technical guidelines, specifications and testing standards related to geotechnical and foundation practice.  He is a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Delaware, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and The University of Akron in Ohio.  He has been the invited Keynote speaker at over 30 national meetings and conferences around the Nation.

He has received numerous National and International recognitions and awards including:  the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Silver Medal, the Geosynthetics Society Achievement Medal (presented in Nice France), FHWA’s “Engineer for the Year”, and recently (2007) he received special awards for his career contributions from the Transportation Research Board and The International Association for Foundation Drilling.  Mr. DiMaggio currently serves on the ASCE Geo-Institute National Board of Governors.

Mr. DiMaggio was the recipient of the FHWA’s 2002 Engineer of the Year. In the agency’s press release for the award, they had the following biographical information:

DiMaggio, who joined the FHWA in 1976, is a senior geotechnical engineer in the agency’s Office of Infrastructure. He is recognized internationally for his technical expertise in geotechnical engineering. In addition, he has written or co-written several FHWA guidelines, which have been translated and adopted by several European and Asian countries as their standards of practice.

DiMaggio has provided technical advice and support on the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge replacement projects in addition to design and construction situations nationwide. He has also presented more than 250 short courses and graduate courses in geotechnical engineering, including instruction at the University of Delaware, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Akron.

DiMaggio received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Clarkson University in New York. He is a member of several technical committees and task forces including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the Transportation Research Board.

Since 2002, he has also co-authored portions of the 5th Edition of the Handbook for Civil Engineers, and been heavily involved in the authoring of Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) updates for the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. He is also actively involved in preparing and teaching courses on a variety of geotechnical and LRFD topics as well as continued consulting on active projects.