Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering

Alumni & Friends

Marvin E. JensenMarvin Jensen, NAE member and recognized leader in irrigation, dies at 95

Alumnus Marvin E. Jensen passed away March 30 at the age of 95. Jensen received his Ph.D. in civil engineering at Colorado State University in 1965. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1988 “for development of improved methods for determining irrigation water requirements, and for international leadership in irrigation engineering advances.”

Jensen developed the Jensen-Haise method to estimate evapotranspiration. His work improved irrigation efficiency and helped make computerized irrigation scheduling possible.

Read more about his life here.

 

 


David Raff named chief engineer for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

David RaffAlumnus David Raff was appointed chief engineer of the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation in May 2020. The chief engineer provides leadership in accomplishing USBR’s mission. Raff directs Reclamation’s engineering and scientific programs in technical services, infrastructure, dam safety, hydropower, research and development, and water planning.

Raff earned a Ph.D. in hydrology and water resources in 2002, studying under Jorge Ramirez. He also earned an M.S. in rangeland ecosystem science from CSU in 1999.

Raff began his career with Reclamation providing technical leadership to assessments of dam safety and developing new and novel approaches to water resources forecasting and projections. He was also instrumental in developing Reclamation’s implementation of the SECURE Water Act and drafting its first report to Congress, which identified the vulnerabilities and risks to water management in the major basins of the western United States. In recognition of his work with Reclamation, Raff received the Department of the Interior’s Superior Service Award.

Read the news release.

 


Ralph A. Wurbs of Texas A&M receives the AAWRE Award

Ralph A. Wurbs Ralph A. Wurbs (Ph.D 1978 Civil) now Associate Professor at Texas A&M,  was recognized by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers Board of Trustees and the AAWRE Awards Committee as the recipient of the AAWRE Inaugural Outstanding Research and Innovation Award, for your significant contributions in water resources planning through your research and development of the Water Rights Analysis Package modeling system and its use in the Texas Water Availability Modeling System.

 

 


Sean Franklin named president of CO section of ASCE

Sean FranklinSean Franklin was named president of the Colorado section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on Oct. 20. At 25 years old, he is the youngest president in the history of the Colorado section.

Sean, a civil design engineer at Galloway, became involved in the student chapter of ASCE while attending CSU. He then volunteered as the secretary of the Colorado section. Under his leadership, he desires to create a Denver branch and focus the Colorado section on serving across the state’s membership.

Other CSU alumni have become officers in ASCE. Nathan Alburn was just inaugurated as the Northern Branch ASCE President. Also, Robert Lankford (now working at AECOM and CSU alumni) that just began as the Treasurer for the Colorado Section as well. And Aimee Corn (working with Gannet Flemming CSU masters alumni) as the Vice President of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE.


Dr. Tissa H. Illangasekare wins Groundwater Prize for the PSIPW 7th Award

Tissa H. Illangasekare

Dr. Tissa H. Illangasekare (Colorado School of Mines, USA) has won the Groundwater Prize for the 7th Award of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW).

The prize was awarded to Dr. Illangasekare for “his work to improve the fundamental understanding of fluid flow and chemical transport in porous media through innovative multi-scale experimentation and modelling, leading to the reliable prediction of the long-term fate of pollutants in groundwater systems and the behaviour of multiple phase fluids in shallow and deep geologic formations.”

For more details, click here.

 


Water for Food Institute names New Director

Peter McCornickPeter McCornick, M.S. Ag. 1986, Ph.D. Ag. 1989, (Agricultural Engineering Department at CSU no longer exists, but at the time when Peter McCornich matriculated in the Agricultural Engineering Department, there was a strong connection between the Civil Engineering and Agricultural Engineering Departments related to a mutual interest and expertise in water)The University of Nebraska announced the appointment of Peter McCornick as the next executive director of its Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute.

McCornick, is internationally known as an expert in water, food and environmental research, and is the deputy director general for research at the International Water Management Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has led research and development efforts on water, agriculture and the environment in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the United States, and has interests in water and food security, the water-food-energy nexus, water reuse, irrigation management and water and climate adaptation.

 


Mohamad al-SulaitiExxonMobil has announced that Dr. Mohamad al-Sulaiti has been appointed as research director for ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ), succeeding Dr. Jennifer Dupont. Dr. al-Sulaiti’s appointment marks the first time a Qatari national will head EMRQ. Dr. al-Sulaiti has been part of the EMRQ team for the past five years as EMRQ’s technical interface co-ordinator.

For the complete story about this appointment, click here.

 

 


Tissa H. Illangasekare

On June 29, 2015, American Geophysical Union announced that Professor Tissa H. Illangasekare (WRE ’74), Colorado School of Mines, is the recipient of the 2015 Langbein Lecture award. Details of the award are available here.

The Walter B. Langbein Lecture is the named lecture of the Hydrology Section, and is one of the AGU Bowie Lectures (honors.agu.org). It is presented once each year. The Lectureship is awarded “for lifetime contributions to the basic science of hydrology and/or unselfish service promoting cooperation in hydrologic research. Additional considerations may be the candidate’s renown as a lecturer and/or as an educator.”

 


Kent Rominger

Kent Rominger, B.S. 1978 Civil, will be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in May. After graduating with his Bachelor’s degree at CSU, Rominger received a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1987 from the U.S. Naval Post-graduate School. He was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1988 after which he applied to NASA, but was not accepted at that time. In September 1990, Rominger reported to Fighter Squadron 211, where he completed a Desert Storm deployment to the Arabian Gulf. After Desert Storm, he reapplied to NASA and was accepted.

For more details, click here.

 


Best Journal Paper

Dr. Leighton Cochran (M.Sc., CSU CEE, 1986; Ph.D., CSU CEE 1992) and Dr. Russ Derickson (M.Sc. CSU CEE 1986; Ph.D., CSU CEE & Atm. Sci. 1992) were recently recognized by the American Association for Wind Engineering for their seminal paper titled “A Physical Modeler’s View of Computational Wind Engineering”, as the Best Journal Paper of the year published in the International Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol. 99, 139-153. The recognition came in the form of a plaque presented during the Twelfth Americas Conference on Wind Engineering, Seattle, Washington (June 2013). This paper was originally presented as a keynote presentation during the 2010 International Conference in Wind Engineering held in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Leighton CochranDr. Cochran received his BE from University of Queensland, Australia, in 1979. After several years consulting, he came to CSU and received an M.Sc in 1986. Subsequently he spent four years as Wind Tunnel Manager for Vipac Engineers and Scientists in Melbourne, Australia. He returned to CSU to obtain his Ph.D. under Professor Jack Cermak in 1992. He continued at CSU for several years as a Research Scientist, and then joined CPP Inc. in Fort Collins where he became a part owner and Senior Associate until 2012. He then returned to Australia where he has worked as a private wind-engineering consultant (Leighton Cochran Consulting), and recently (2014-present) joined MEL Consultants Pty Ltd, Brisbane Australia as Director, Northern Australia and Asia. Dr. Cochran has been past chair of the Wind Effects Booklet Task Committee for the ASCE and Secretary (2000-2006) of the ASCE Aerodynamics Committee. Dr. Cochran was also past Editor of the American Wind Engineering Association (AWEA) newsletter, Wind Engineer, and past President of the AWEA (2007-2008) and current Americas Regional Coordinator for the International Association for Wind Engineering (2009-2017). He has also contributed to the recent update to the ASHRAE Handbook Fundamentals, Chapter 24 (2013).
Russ DericksonDr. Russ Derickson worked in the Wind Engineering Program at Colorado State University as a Research Associate between 1988-1992 managing wind-tunnel projects with an emphasis in both physical and numerical modeling. After he graduated with a Ph.D. in 1992 he taught at South Dakota School of Mines, worked as a Chief Engineer and Senior Scientist with Architectural Energy Corporation (1983-1987, 1993-1995, 2008-2010); from 2002-2004 he was a Senior Associate with CPP Wind Engineers, Fort Collins; between 2004-2007 he was a member of the founding faculty of the Presidio School of Management (now Presidio Graduate School) curriculum in Sustainable Products and Services; and since 2000 to present he has been President of the Innovation Affinity Group, LLC. Dr. Derickson is also the author of the REM software engine used by 90% of the home energy rating market nationally. Currently his company the Innovation Affinity Group is developing an updated version of this energy efficient, thermal comfort software.

 


Glenn E. MoglenGlenn E. Moglen (M.S., 1989), professor in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech became the CEE Program Director for the National Capital Region in Fall 2012. He was also recently elected to the grade of Fellow of ASCE (F.ASCE) in February, 2013.

 

 

 


Terry A. Ruhl

CH2M HILL, a global full-service consulting, design, construction, and operations firm, is pleased to announce that Terry A. Ruhl, PE, F. ASCE, has been appointed president of the firm’s No. 4 ranked (Engineering News-Record) Transportation business. The firm is a leader in transportation planning, design, design-build, program management, construction management and operations.

A 19-year veteran of CH2M HILL, Ruhl previously served as the senior vice president and director of consulting and international operations for the company’s Transportation Business Group, leading the Aviation, Highway and Bridge, Ports and Maritime, and Transit and Rail consulting practices. He has been responsible for the growth and profitability of these market segments, both domestically and internationally.

For complete details about this appointment, please click here.

 


Gary A. FoxGary A. Fox, B.S. Civil Engineering, 1974, currently with Oklahoma State was honored on Aug. 1, 2012 during an awards program at the ASABE Annual International Meeting held in Dallas, Texas at the Anatole Hilton Dallas as the recipient of the A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award. Fox, an associate professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, was recognized for his outstanding contributions to future agricultural and biological engineers through teaching, research, and professional service. He is recognized as one of the rising stars in the education of undergraduate and graduate engineering students and in integrating educational activities in cutting-edge research.

 


Dr. Daeryong Park was recently awared the Best Paper Award for “Performance Modeling of Storm Water Best Management Practices with Uncertainty Analysis”, JHE, 16(4): 332-344, 2011 by the EWRI-ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 2012. He will be given this award during the World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2012, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, on May 23 at the Watershed Council Breakfast.

 


Aaron Ogorzalek is now working for Vector Engineering, which was purchased by a California-based company named Geo-Logic Associates.

 


Robertus W. Triweko

Robertus W. Triweko Elected as Rector of Universitas Parahyangan, Indonesia

Prof. Robertus W. Triweko, (Ph.D. 1992) was elected as Rector of Universitas Parahyangan, Indonesia with the terms of his office being from 2011 to 2015. The decision was based on various assessments, including evluations from two external consultants: Principia Learning Lab and The Jakarta Consulting Group.

Triweko has a distinguished career in engineering and public service in his country, and his PhD was in WRPM where he analyzed the tough engineering and management issues of the Jakarta water supply.

 

 


David Molden

Dr. David Molden is the New Director General Designate of ICIMOD

It was announced that Dr. David Molden, (M.S. 1982, Ph.D. 1988) has been selected as the new Director General designate of ICIMOD. He will succeed Dr. Andreas Schild, current Director General of ICIMOD, from 1st December 2011. The selection was made by the full Board of Governors of ICIMOD, which met in Kathmandu from 25th to 28th May 2011. Dr. David Molden is a development specialist with more than 30 years of experience in designing, planning, executing, and monitoring programs on water management, livelihoods and environment, and ecosystem services. Dr. Molden was awarded a PhD in Civil Engineering, specializing in groundwater and irrigation.

 

 

 

 


Christos A. Karavitis is Project Coordinator for Technologies for Water Recycling and Reuse in Latin American Context Consortium

Christos A. KaravitisChristos A. Karavitis (M.S. 1987, Ph.D. 1992) is Project Coordinator for a major consortium of 13 partners from 11 countries entitled Technologies for Water Recycling and Reuse in Latin American Context. The overall objective of the consortium is to assess the potential of various water recycling and reuse technologies, evaluate their social acceptance, provide affordable, efficient and effective solutions for water supply and sanitation in rural and agricultural areas in the context of climate change and water scarcity mitigation. Karavitis is Assistant Professor in the Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Natural Resources Development and Agricultural Engineering. He is also Professor Affiliate in Water Resources Planning and Management here at CSU.

 


Hal Simpson Appointed to U.S. Administration

Hal Simpson

On July 5 of this year President Obama appointed Hal Simpson (BS ‘67 and MS ’69), United States Representative to the Rio Grande Compact Commission, a key Administration post. The Rio Grande Compact is an interstate river compact between Colorado, New Mexico and Texas approved by Congress on May 31, 1939.

Hal has been a consulting engineer in water resources management since retiring from the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) in June 2007 after 34 years of service. He served as State Engineer at DWR from 1992-2007, where he was responsible for the direction and management of the Division including overseeing distribution and administration of water resources. As State Engineer he also served as Colorado’s commissioner on five interstate compacts, including the Rio Grande Compact Commission. Prior to being appointed State Engineer, Hal held several other management positions with the DWR, including serving as Deputy State Engineer from 1985-1992. He is a Diplomate in Water Resources Engineering with the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers and has long been a very active alumnus of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CSU. He is currently serving on the Department External Advisory Board.

 


 

Alumni: Send us your news!

Email civil@engr.colostate.edu with your recent promotions, honors, publications, research, speaking engagements, and photos, so we can keep your classmates informed.