Dr. Kenneth Derucher is a Professor of Civil Engineering at California State University, Chico (Chico State) and has served as the Dean of the College of Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management. Dr. Derucher is a teacher, researcher, consultant, fundraiser and author of a number of textbooks and various publications. He is a Professional Engineer who served on many legal cases as an expert witness in the engineering field. During Dr. Derucher’s career, he has received many accolades for his achievements.Dr. Chandrasekhar Putcha is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at California State University, Fullerton since 1981. Earlier to that, he worked at West Virginia University, Morgantown as Research Assistant Professor. His research areas of interest are – Reliability, Risk Analysis and optimization. He has published more than 180 research papers in refereed Journals and conferences. He is a Fellow of American Society of Civil Engineers. He did consulting for Federal agencies such as NASA, Navy, US Army Corps of Engineers and Air Force as well as leading private organizations like Boeing, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC).Dr. Uksun Kim is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at California State University, Fullerton and served as the Department Chair from 2012 to 2018. His research interests include seismic design of building systems with steel joist girders, partially-restrained connections, and seismic rehabilitation of prestressed building systems. He is a licensed professional engineer and a LEED AP.Prof. GangaRao Hota, Ph. D., PE- After joining West Virginia University in 1969, Dr. Hota attained the rank of Maurice & JoAnn Wadsworth Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Statler College of Engineering, and became a Fellow of ASCE and SEI. Dr. Hota has been directing the Constructed Facilities Center since 1988, and the Center for Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI), both co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation- IUCRC. He has been advancing fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for infrastructure implementation, in hydraulic structures jointly with USACE, naval vessels, utility poles, high pressure pipes, sheet piling, others. He chairs PHMSA’s WG191 on Hydraulic Structures. Dr. Hota has published over 400 technical papers in refereed journals and proceedings, in addition to textbooks and book chapters. He has received 15 patents and many national awards. His accomplishments have been covered by CNN, ABC News, KDKA-Pittsburgh, WV-PBS, and others.
