Hawthorne, N.J. (August 26, 2020): In 2018, DFI introduced the DFI Traveling Lecturer program to promote the field of geotechnical engineering and deep foundation construction by encouraging students to explore a career in the deep foundations industry, providing information on topics of interest to members of the industry, and raising awareness of how DFI and its activities support the industry. Each year, DFI selects a prominent industry expert as the DFI Traveling Lecturer to present a series of lectures to university students, professional groups and industry associations.
David B. Paul, P.E., managing partner of Paul GeoTek Engineering, Denver, Colorado, and former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dam safety officer for the Mosul Dam Task Force, has been selected as the 2020-2021 DFI Traveling Lecturer. He is available, on request of DFI, to present lectures September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2021.
Paul retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at the end of 2018 after 42 years of Federal service. His last position was as the dam safety officer for the Mosul Dam Task Force, which provided technical assistance to the Government of Iraq to mitigate dam safety issues associated with the dam. He also served as special assistant for Dam Safety at the USACE headquarters in Washington, D.C., responsible for managing the USACE’s portfolio of 715 dams.
He is a national specialist on critical infrastructure design, dam design, levee design, construction engineering, engineering risk assessments, interim risk reduction measures (IRRM), and dam and levee safety modifications. He recently participated in the Risk Assessment for Oroville Dam in California, which is the tallest earth dam in the U.S. He has been involved in the design and construction of 10 new dams and over 75 dam modifications around the world.
Paul is currently a trustee of Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) and a member of the United States Society of Dams (USSD), Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He is the DFI trustee liaison to its Seepage Control and International Grouting committees, serves as chair of the USSD Committee on Construction and is active with the Embankment Dams Committee. He is the USSD representative to the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) Embankment Dams Committee.
“Dave Paul’s 45 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, with a focus on critical infrastructure design and risk assessment, make him a perfect traveling lecturer to represent the industry and DFI,” says Theresa Engler, DFI executive director. “As an expert in dam and levee design, construction and safety, he is always willing to share his knowledge with the deep foundations community.”
Following are the 2020-2021 Traveling Lecture Series Topics:
- Emergency Repairs to Mosul Dam in Iraq: A High-Risk Dam on a Karst Foundation
- 40 Years of Dam and Levee Safety in the U.S. – Positive Impact on Infrastructure
- Advancements in Technologies for Constructing Seepage Control Cutoffs for Dams and Levees – Beginning with Wolf Creek Dam
- Lessons Learned from the Failure of Teton Dam
- Risk-Informed Design and Construction – What It Is and What It Is Not
- Geotechnical Baseline Reports – How to Identify a Good One and a Bad One
- Long-Term Performance Evaluations of Cutoff Wall Backfill Materials
- Trends in Data Management Systems and Construction Monitoring
Learn more about the Traveling Lecturer program, request the Traveling Lecturer to speak at your event or nominate someone as a future Traveling Lecturer.
About the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI)
DFI (www.dfi.org) is an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry. Our multidisciplinary membership creates a consensus voice and a common vision for continual improvement in the planning, design and construction of deep foundations and excavations. We bring together members for networking, education, communication and collaboration. With our members, we promote the advancement of the deep foundations industry through technical committees, educational programs and conferences, publications, research, government relations and outreach. DFI has more than 3,500 members worldwide.
