From front left: Joe Manous, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Gary Loss, P.E., D.WRE, Mitchell Heineman, P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, Venkataramana Sridhar, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Lalit Jha, P.E., CFM, D.WRE, AAWRE Trustee - S.K. Nanda, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, David Patterson, P.E., CFM, D.WRE, Jennifer Walker, P.E., CFM, D.WRE, S.T. Su, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Guillermo Vicens, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Nancy Powell, P.E., D.WRE; Second row from left: Frank Falcone, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Fadi Georges Comair, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Pascale Champagne, Ph.D., P.Eng., D.WRE, AAWRE Trustee - Kyle Schilling, P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, AAWRE Trustee - Kay Whitlock, P.E., D.WRE, Val Frenkel, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Lizette Chevalier, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Michael Deering, P.E., D.WRE, ASCE President - D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE, EWRI President - C. Dale Jacobson, P.E., BCEE, F.ASCE; Last row from left: Gerardo Ocanas, Ph.D., P.E., CFM, D.WRE, Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, Jr., P.E., D.WRE, Elizabeth Perez, P.E., D.WRE, Robert Montgomery, P.E., D.WRE, Cecil Soileau, P.E., PLS, D.WRE, Walter Skipwith, P.E., D.WRE, Vijay Singh, Ph.D, Sc.D., P.E., P.H., Hon.D.WRE, Brian Van Weele, P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE Past-President - Michael Ports, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, Rick Gold, P.E., D.WRE, Sharika Senarath, Ph.D., P.E., P.H., PMP, D.WRE, David Parkhill, P.E., D.WRE, David Langseth, Sc.D., P.E., D.WRE, Thomas Mountz, P.E., CFM, D.WRE, AAWRE President - Daniel Boyd, P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE Trustee - Robert Traver, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Ronald Anderson, P.E., D.WRE, Shaun Gannon, P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE Trustee - William Espey, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Arthur Schmidt, III, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, AAWRE Trustee - Kenneth Goodwin, Esq.
The American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) held a special 5th Anniversary Diplomate Induction ceremony as part of the EWRI 2009 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress on May 18 in Kansas City, Missouri. This ceremony was AAWRE's fifth consecutive ceremony held at the annual EWRI Congress, since hosting its inaugural ceremony at the 2005 EWRI Congress in Anchorage, Alaska.
The annual diplomate ceremony is to induct new diplomates into the Academy. At this year's ceremony in Kansas City, AAWRE recognized its founding members, inducted two new honorary diplomates, Professor Vijay P. Singh, Ph.D., Sc.D., P.E., P.H., Hon.D.WRE, from Texas A&M University, Professor William W.G. Yeh, Ph.D., Hon.D.WRE, from UCLA, and all new diplomates from fall 2008 and thru this spring 2009. The Academy also bestowed a special recognition award to the Chief of Engineers & Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr., P.E., D.WRE, for his leadership and contributions to the engineering profession and his service to the nation. The Lt. Gen. Van Antwerp was also inducted as a new diplomate of the Academy.
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) President — D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE, Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) President — C. Dale Jacobson, P.E., BCEE, F.ASCE, EWRI 2009 Congress Chair and AAWRE Treasurer — William H. Espey, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, and AAWRE President — Daniel W. Boyd, P.E., D.WRE participated in the ceremony remarks.
EWRI President, Dale Jacobson began the ceremony by welcoming all attendees. Mr. Jacobson thanked AAWRE and the EWRI members for supporting the EWRI Congress and for partnering with EWRI on its Congresses. Mr. Jacobson stressed the significance of the partnership between AAWRE and EWRI, and stated that EWRI fully supports AAWRE's mission in recognizing advanced, post-licensure certification for water resources engineers. Mr. Jacobson stated that EWRI will continue to support AAWRE and hopes for the continuing collaboration of EWRI and AAWRE in future Congresses.
ASCE President, D. Wayne Klotz, who has been a Diplomate of the academy since 2006, congratulated the new inductees and emphasized the importance of post-licensure advanced certification for water resources engineers. Mr. Klotz stated the correlation between the goals of ASCE's Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025 and the Diplomate, Water Resources Engineers (D.WRE) program, "The authors of the Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025 envisioned specialty certification as a 'means of demonstrating competency and a measure of proficiency in a specialized technical field' and predicted that it would yield: A public perception of certified engineers as advanced knowledge professionals. That's why programs such as the D.WRE were created- to demonstrate competence and affect public confidence. I have long believed, personally, that voluntary specialty certification beyond licensure is the means to increasing the levels of standards of practice and improving professionalism and ethics in engineering." Mr. Klotz also urged that "we recognize the vast and significant challenges and opportunities ahead and that water resources engineers can lead civil engineering into the future."
Founding AAWRE Trustee, Bill Espey recognized all diplomates who passed this past year: Leo Roy Beard, who founded the USACE — Hydrological Engineering Center, John W. Keys, III, former commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Peter Stahre, who was the director of Malmo Water in Sweden. Dr. Espey also presented the special recognition award to Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp. The Lt. Gen. was in attendance to receive his award, as the Lt. Gen. presented a special keynote address, prior to the ceremony.
The formal portion of the ceremony began with the AAWRE president, Daniel Boyd recognizing organizations from the different sectors that employed most diplomates and support the D.WRE advanced certification. Among the organizations recognized were the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, South Florida Water Management District, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from the public sector; University of Texas at Austin, Colorado State University, and University of Central Florida from the academic sector; CDM, WEST Consultants, and Christopher Burke Engineering in the private sector, respectively. Mr. Boyd also recognized the significance of this 5th AAWRE ceremony, "As the Academy is completing our 5th year of existence and operations, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the founding members of AAWRE and all of you, the founding diplomates of AAWRE, and the members of EWRI." Mr. Boyd also thanked all AAWRE founding trustees, for their vision and leadership in starting the Academy. He remarked, "We would like to thank each of them for having the vision and laying the groundwork to create this Academy. Without these outstanding leaders- we would not be here tonight."
The Academy also recognized and congratulated AAWRE Diplomates for receiving various EWRI Awards at the 2009 Congress. Honorary Diplomate, Warren Viessman, Ph.D., P.E., Hon.D.WRE, and Augustine Fredrich, P.E., D.WRE, for receiving the EWRI Lifetime Achievement Award; AAWRE Trustee – Robert G. Traver, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE for the EWRI Outstanding Achievement Award; Richard G. Allen, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, for the EWRI Expression of Appreciation Award and for being part of a team for the EWRI Journal Award; and AAWRE Founding Trustee – Albert J. Clemmens, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE and John A. Replogle, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, for being part of a team for the EWRI Journal Award for Best Discussion.
Professor Sing and Professor Yeh were recognized and honored by President Boyd, with a tribute for each honorary diplomate during the ceremony. Both were awarded a medallion, certificate, and lapel pin for their achievements. Professor Singh, along with his wife, Anita, was in attendance at ceremony to accept his recognition and honor. Professor Yeh could not attend so his awards were accepted by Professor Frank T'sai of LSU, on behalf of Professor Yeh.
Professor Singh and Professor Yeh are only the 17th and 18th individuals to be awarded the honorary status by AAWRE, since its inception in 2004. The Honorary Diplomate designation is bestowed on outstanding individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria: the individual(s) have attained a position of eminence in the water resources engineering profession, have made a singular noteworthy achievement or sustained noteworthy contributions to the advancement of water resources engineering profession, or have rendered outstanding service over a sustained period of time to the work of the Academy.
Mr. Boyd, along with AAWRE President–Elect, P. Kay Whitlock, P.E., D.WRE and AAWRE Past–President, Michael A. Ports, P.E., P.H., D.WRE, conducted the presentation of the awards to the honorary diplomates and all new diplomates. Special diplomate lapel pins and certificates of special knowledge were awarded to each of the new diplomates to commemorate their achievement. All new inductees got an opportunity to take pictures with Wayne Klotz and Dale Jacobson, and a group picture was taken of all new diplomates with AAWRE founding members and trustees.
Mr. Boyd concluded the ceremony by providing the following statement, "AAWRE Diplomates – what you have done and are doing, you are setting an example and raising the level of standards, for all other water resources engineers to follow. And for that, you should be proud and take pride in your achievement and for your willingness to lead the direction of our profession."
The ceremony was followed by a reception for all in attendance- as families, friends, and colleagues of the honored congratulated the new diplomates. AAWRE plans to host the next Diplomate induction ceremony at the 2010 EWRI Congress in Providence, Rhode Island.