Christopher S. Decker, P.E., F.ASCE, Senior Vice President, RDM International, has been named the recipient of the ASCE Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI) Airfield Pavement Practitioner Award. The Airfield Pavement Practitioner Award was established in 2009 to recognize and honor practicing engineers employed in the airfield pavement engineering profession with demonstrated leadership and/or achievements in airfield pavement projects.
Mr. Decker has more than 25 years of experience in pavement design, materials testing, quality control/quality assurance, set-up and operation of aggregate, concrete and asphalt plant sites, and construction management. He has provided airfield design and construction management services in accordance with the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) utilized by the United States Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular Criteria, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aerodrome Design Manual Criteria. Over the past ten years , he has successfully completed over 80 projects across the United States and abroad. He has written several technical papers and provided training courses , and case study project presentations for clients, professional society conferences and state, federal, and international government organizations. Mr. Decker is very active in Airfield Pavement Committee, and makes regular contributions to ASCE pavement conferences.
In addition to working at the Tech Center, Mr. Decker has also provided significant reviews and commented on FAA Airfield Construction Specifications and Pavement Design and Evaluation identified in Advisory Circulars 150/5370-10 (latest edition) and 150 /5320-6 (latest edition). The reviews have been based on design and construction projects performed across the continental U.S as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. He has been working with the US Navy to perform forensic investigations and actively review construction projects. On the international front, he worked with the Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) of China from 2011 to 2016 to assist with developing requirements for paving airfield PCC pavements with a slip-form paver.
A Fellow and Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, winner of numerous prestigious awards, Mr. Decker has gained the respect of his peers as a true professional, instructor, and a major contributor to the advancement of airfield pavement engineering. His ability to not only lead a small business, but also take time to educate and mentor staff, business partners, high school and college interns, shows his passion and commitment to the advancement of airfield pavement engineering.