Gowen Dishman, PE
Resident Engineer, HBTN Corporation

This presentation will review the changes that have occurred in the engineering profession over the past 40 years as witnessed by the author, and will use this experience to predict possible changes that may occur during the next 40 years. These will include the increase complication of design codes for structures, the continued marginalization of math skills, the increase use of computer simulations for the verification of structural design and the introduction of artificial intelligence in engineering.  The presentation will conclude with a discussion of humanistic traits that are key components of a successful career in engineering, regardless of the changes that may occur.

Gowen Dishman, P.E., graduated from Tennessee Technological University, Class of 1979 in Civil Engineering. He has been involved in the design and the construction of over 30 major bridge projects in the U.S. Gowen started his bridge design and bridge construction career in 1980 with Figg and Muller Engineering and has worked on several high profile projects including the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida, winner of the 1988 Presidential Design Award; the Fred Hartman Bridge in Houston, Texas; the US 82 Bridge across the Mississippi River; and the Mario Cuomo Bridge (replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge over the Hudson River in New York.  All of these bridges were high level, long span, cabled stayed bridges. For the past 16 years he has worked for HNTB Corporation. He is currently serving as the Resident Engineer for the construction of the new Houston Ship Channel Bridge in Houston, Texas.  He is a registered professional engineer in Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Connecticut and New York. He is a founding member in the American Segmental Bridge Institute, where he serves on the Construction Practice Committee for Segmental Bridges. He is a Fellow of the HNTB Corporation’s Fellows Program which recognizes technical excellence in the industry.