American Society of Civil Engineers - Los Angeles Section

About the Book

In 2013, the Los Angeles Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Centennial year is highlighted herein with photos of the many celebratory activities held by the ASCE Los Angeles Section, its Branches, Younger Member Forums, Life Member Forums and Student Branches from Oct. 2012 through December 2013. Articles authored by various civil engineering leaders are included as posted on the Section website throughout the 2013 year describing various forms of civil engineering infrastructure in the region. Additionally, as the second largest Section in the ASCE Society and covering most of the Southern California, southern San Joaquin valley and much of the eastern portion of California, the founding of this remarkable organization is described including profiles of many of the civil engineering leaders who supported ASCE and civil engineering projects that provide the quality of life so many enjoy in Southern California today. A Section Timeline and Civil Engineering Landmarks Review is also included that provides important historical reference for how far we have come over the past century. Together, the remarkable Centennial year for the Section highlights the extraordinary contributions that civil engineers have made, and will continue to make, for generations to come.

About the Author

Andrew Machen, P.E. M.ASCE Andrew Machen is a registered Civil Engineer in California and Alaska. A Life Member of ASCE and a member of the History & Heritage Committee of the Los Angeles Section, Machen earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Penn State, and certificates in Cold Regions Engineering from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Project Management, Engineering Management, and Management of Technical Projects from Caltech; Design of Communications Systems from UCLA; Intelligent Transportation Systems from MIT; and Geographic Information Systems from UC Riverside. He is currently Vice-Chair of the Region 9 History & Heritage Committee. Joseph R. Buley, P.E., F.ASCE, CA “A” Mr. Buley holds a bachelor of science from the University of Vermont, a master of science from Stanford University, attended Western States University College of Law, is a registered civil-structural engineer, maintains a California Contractor's "A" license and is a Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers. Mr. Buley retired from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 2010. AuthorHouse published his Memoir, "In The Shadows" in 2013. John Morris P.E., F.ASCE D.WRE John Morris has done planning, design, regulatory assistance and construction for both water and wastewater facilities domestically and internationally for his entire career which spans nearly 50 years. He has served as staff and management with large consultants as well as with public agencies prior to starting his own consulting practice in 1994. His professional experience has been overlain with 30 years in public policy positions. He is currently the Secretary of the Board of the Metropolitan Water District. Over his career, he has been very active in the industry having served on and led technical committees as well as in leadership roles for numerous professional and trade associations. Mr. Morris is a Board Certified Civil Engineer, Honorary Diplomate Water Resources Engineer, WEF Fellow, Fellow ASCE, Fellow Institute for the Advancement of Engineering and is a Past President of the Los Angeles Section ASCE as was his grandfather. John Hogan, P.E., LEED AP, M.ASCE John Hogan is the President and CEO of Hall & Foreman, Inc. (HFI), a civil engineering, surveying and land planning firm based in Tustin, California. John has been active in ASCE throughout his 40+ year career. He served as the 2011-12 ASCE Los Angeles Section President and as the 2005-6 ASCE Orange County Branch President. John was recognized by ASCE Region 9 as the 2012 Outstanding Section Officer. In 2011, the Orange County Branch named John its Engineer of the Year. John also serves on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Building Industry Association and is a member of the CSU Long Beach Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management Advisory Council. Charles H. Adams, JR., P.E., M.ASCE Charles Adams has spent most of his Civil Engineering career with the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports, as a project manager at Los Angeles International, Ontario International and Van Nuys Airports. He also has had seven years of employment with Jacobs Engineering where he was a member of construction management teams at Sacramento International, San Antonio International and St. George Municipal Airports. Charles graduated from California State University Los Angeles with a MS degree in Civil Engineering. He served in the United States Navy as a commissioned officer for three years of active duty. He is a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California. He is active with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and is currently the Los Angeles Section, Vice President for Technical Groups, and also Past Chair of the Air Transport Technical Group. Doug Serrano (Bio already shown at end of article) Rodrix Jennings III, MPA Rodrix Jennings III is an administrative lead and assistant project manager for the City of Los Angeles’ Los Angeles Environmental Learning Center at the Hyperion Treatment Plant. He also recently served as the budget and administrative manager of Hyperion Treatment Plant’s $80 million annual budget. He graduated from California State University, Northridge in 2002 with a B.S. in Business Administration, and in 2010 with an M.S. in Public Administration. In addition to his commitment to the City of Los Angeles, he is also a licensed Real Estate Broker. He currently resides in Inglewood, CA with his wife Danielle, and their dog Sonja. MARK R. NORTON PE, F.ASCE, LEED AP Mr. Norton is the Water Resources and Planning Department Manager for the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA). He holds a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Public Administration from BYU. He is a registered civil engineer in California and Colorado and accredited LEED BD&C (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) professional under the US Green Building Council. Mr. Norton’s background includes 30 years of engineering experience in a broad range of civil engineering projects with primary expertise in water resources. His titles include Past President of the Inland Empire Council of Engineers and Scientists, Past President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Bernardino/Riverside Branch and Los Angeles Section, 2004-05 ASCE Civil Engineer of the Year and the currently serves as a ASCE Region 9 (California) Governor and Chair of the ASCE Region 9 Water & Environment Committee. Yazdan (Yaz) Emrani, P.E. M.ASCE Yazdan (Yaz) Emrani is Senior Vice President and a Principal at Hall & Foreman Inc., an Orange County based Civil and Environmental Consulting Engineering firm. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from University of Maryland at College Park. Yaz Emrani's 27 years of experience has focused on planning, design, and construction management of infrastructure improvements around the country. Yaz was ASCE Orange County Branch's President in 2006-2007 and is the current President of the ASCE Los Angeles Section. Yaz is a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in California, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, and Louisiana.