September 2007 - Government Civil Engineer Award
posted by Larry J Smith
Government Civil Engineer Award Given to Larry Smith, P.E., F.ASCE
by Greg Zeiss, P.E.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Sacramento Section proudly honors Larry Smith, PE, the current Section Senior Director, as the "Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award" recipient, as announced by ASCE National on August 16, 2007. The "Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award" recognizes distinguished civil engineers employed in public service for significant engineering contributions as a practitioner in public service. Qualifications of the award nominees include sustained outstanding civil engineering performance in the public sector, evidence of high character and professional integrity, and civic and humanitarian activities (community service).
Larry earned both a BSCE and MSCE in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah. He has 33 years of service with the Army Corps of Engineers, and is currently the Chief of Construction of the Corps Sacramento District, where he is responsible for a staff of 130 employees and a $300M annual budget of military, civil, and disaster construction in eight western states.
He has been recognized as an authority and leader for the development and innovative advancements in construction contract administration. One of his key contributions was his development of "The Disk of Knowledge," a CD and web-based contract administration software used worldwide by the Corp of Engineers. As a leader with the Corps of Engineers, Larry has groomed others in advanced contract administration skills and achieved a high rate of PE registration within his staff. Mike Mahoney, referring to Larry's mentoring role in his career advancement to Chief of Construction Operations of the Sacramento Corps District, stated "Larry has always displayed a high degree of professional integrity, responsibility, ambition, and character."
Larry is very active in community service. Since 1979, he has served as a Volunteer Fire Fighter, with the current position as a Captain and Emergency Medical Technician with the Rescue Fire Protection District. He is also a California State Fire Marshall Certified Instructor. Most recently, Larry was the Chair and key organizer of the highly successful Sacramento Levee Conference held last July, which had an attendance of 400, including ASCE President William Marcuson, top leadership from the Corps of Engineers, and the internationally "who's-who" in levee and flood protection. For putting this conference together, a partnership was created between SAME (Society of American Military Engineers) (for which Larry is also an officer) and ASCE. In reviewing Larry's service record with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, his role as a Volunteer Fire Fighter, and his service as an active membership in SAME and ASCE, it is indisputable why the ASCE National Committee on Leadership and Management bestowed this honor on Larry - He has, as Chuck Yeager would say, the "right stuff."