James A. Rispoli, P.E., BCEE, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE, was recently named a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This is the highest honor to which a civil engineer can aspire. In the Society’s 163-year history only 679 people have been elected to the honor, of which 213 are currently living.

Rispoli is recognized for prominence in construction and infrastructure management, environmental and nuclear facilities operations, and for leading the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management to adopt changes in construction project management. He will be honored at the ASCE 2016 Convention, Sept. 28 through Oct. 1, in Portland, Oregon.

As Assistant Secretary of Energy, Rispoli led the nation’s cleanup of waste and environmental contamination from nuclear-related research and production activities. He managed the largest capital construction portfolio in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with the biggest project valued at more than $12 billion and the smallest in excess of $400 million. In this role, he instituted improvements resulting in more than 90 percent of the construction and cleanup projects in DOE’s cleanup portfolio attaining cost and schedule targets. Rispoli also led a team of nuclear and construction contractor and government safety professionals in attaining the best safety record across the cleanup sites of any major program in the department.

Prior to his career with the U.S. Department of Energy, Rispoli served 27 years in the Navy, retiring as a captain in the Civil Engineer Corps. As commanding officer for the Public Works Center and director of public works, facilities and environmental programs for the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex in Hawaii, Rispoli’s command managed maintenance and repair of shore facilities and infrastructure at the U.S. Navy’s third largest installation.

Among his many awards are the ASCE Civil Government, Parcel-Sverdrup, and Presidents’ Awards, the Society of American Military Engineers’ 2014 “Golden Eagle” Award, as well as recognition for his service as Assistant Secretary of Energy with the Secretary’s Award of Excellence in 2008.

Rispoli received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College, a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire, a master’s in business from Central Michigan University, and is a Professor of Practice at North Carolina State University. Past president of two engineering firms, he is currently senior executive advisor with PT&C LLC, an Atlanta-based engineering company.