ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. It is with great respect that the US Section PIANC honors Commissioner Dr. Robert “Bob” Engler who passed away in March of this year, by announcing the Robert M. Engler, Ph.D. Student Travel Scholarship. During the recent Dredging 2015 Conference in Savannah, The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), provided a moving tribute to Bob during which she made the announcement. The scholarship will enable PIANC USA to provide travel funding to full time students to attend its technical conferences. Dr. Engler was always extremely supportive of and mentoring to students and Young Professionals (YPs), making this the perfect tribute to keep his memory strong. Generations will continue to look to him for inspiration. Bob’s wife Pat took the stage to accept the plaque commemorating the Scholarship. She was accompanied to the event by her daughter Jimi Bonnette, son Rip Engler, and sister Jimmi Vasser.
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Dr. Engler (Geochemist-Wetlands Soils and Sediments) was employed in 1973 by the USACE Waterways Experiment Station (WES) and served in numerous positions: researcher, program manager, upper-management supervisor, Senior Scientist (Environmental) and technical lead of several national research and development programs supporting the USACE navigation mission.
While at WES he made notable technical contributions that advanced the state-of-the-art in the geochemistry of dredged material, flooded soils, wetlands, sediments, toxic substances, aquatic disposal, and domestic/international regulatory criteria. He also represented the Corps on numerous Congressional hearings, National Academy teams, litigation teams, international treaties and interagency regulatory negotiations.
Dr. Engler received numerous awards including the Gallery of Distinguished Employees. He joined Moffatt & Nichol in January 2006 and worked on numerous environmental, dredging and contaminated sediments projects. The projects ranged from harbor deepening to Superfund sediment cleanup activities. He also served as an expert witness in Superfund and navigation dredging litigation.
Dr. Engler received the ASCE John G. Moffatt-Frank E. Nichol Harbor & Coastal Engineering Award. He was made an Honorary Member of PIANC International in 2013. He has been a member of PIANC USA since 1978. His participation in PIANC and other engineering and navigation societies included:
PIANC International Environmental Commission, Chairman, 1994-2007
PIANC International Executive Committee, 1994-2007
PIANC US Section Vice President and Commissioner, 2008- present
Western Dredging Association (WEDA) 1980
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 1999
Coastal, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI), Waterways Committee, Dredging Subcommittee, Chairman
For more information, visit http://pianc.sites.usa.gov/