ASCE Honors Ed Schmeltz with OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award
/– Posted 2015-04-21
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) presented Edward Schmeltz, Co-Chairman of the PIANC International Co-operation Commission and PIANC USA Commissioner, with an award at its annual Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Awards Gala on March 26, 2015. Mr. Schmeltz received the OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award for Design. A short video detailing his career was played at the gala where his family, colleagues and friends joined him to celebrate his achievements.
Mr. Schmeltz is a Civil Engineer specializing in the design and construction of Marine Facilities. With 35 years of experience, he has been responsible for projects in a variety of ports and harbors in the United States and internationally. His experience includes the planning, design and construction engineering related to the development of petrochemical, container and general cargo facilities as well as dredging and coastal engineering projects.
During his career, Mr. Schmeltz has worked on a variety of notable projects. He designed the Pier 400 Development for the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Sines in Portugal. Mr. Schmeltz worked on restoring Whiskey Island, one of the barrier islands that protect New Orleans. He’s also completed several projects for the U.S. Navy, such as designing berth and support facilities for the battleships U.S.S Iowa in New York Harbor and U.S.S. Missouri in Pearl Harbor, entrancing channel improvements for CVN nuclear aircraft carriers in San Diego, and berth and support facilities for the Trident nuclear submarines in Kings Bay, Georgia.
Having held a variety of positions during his career, Mr. Schmeltz currently serves as Senior Vice President at AECOM, the largest transportation engineering firm in the United States. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering (specialty: Coastal and Ocean Engineering) from Texas A&M University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Texas. In 2010, Mr. Schmeltz was an inaugural inductee into the Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port & Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) where he obtained specialty certification in Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineering. He recently was appointed to the Academy’s Board of Governors.
Mr. Schmeltz has authored over 25 technical publications related to maritime projects and issues. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. In addition to PIANC, he is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and New York Society of Professional Engineers.