RESTON, Va. – The American Society of Civil Engineers today announced that its executive director, Tom Smith, will retire effective December 31, 2025, after almost 29 years of service including 11 years in his current role.
In setting the timing of his departure with the ASCE board, Smith said he felt the time was right to transition to new leadership as the organization embarks on a series of strategic initiatives.
“Personally, it’s been a dream job to lead an organization that has been a part of my life since my student days, and I’m proud of the things we’ve achieved through the close partnerships we’ve built between our staff and volunteer leaders,” Smith said. “After almost three decades with ASCE, I’m eager to pursue some of my personal and professional passions in other ways and truly feel that the timing is right to pass the leadership mantle on to a new leader.”
Smith noted that among the major initiatives in the early stages of development are launching a new conference for infrastructure professionals, strengthening and expanding its standards program, reframing its governance, and potentially relocating its headquarters, currently based in Reston, VA.
“These are initiatives with long-term impact on ASCE’s future, as well as the future of the profession, and our next leader should be deeply involved in setting direction to keep us moving forward,” Smith added.
“We are immensely grateful for Tom’s service, for his steady leadership, and his extraordinary balance of wisdom, kindness, and vision, qualities through which he has led by example, built strong relationships, and left a lasting positive influence,” said ASCE President Feniosky Pena-Mora, PhD, P.E. “Tom has set a high standard for ASCE and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
Smith is well-known as a trusted voice for the profession and a passionate advocate for infrastructure. His leadership and guidance helped expand the influence of ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Card, which was instrumental in helping secure passage of the most significant federal infrastructure bill in decades. His numerous accomplishments over many years include skillfully navigating ASCE through both economic downturns and the COVID pandemic, staunchly defending challenges to engineering licensure and protection of scientific intellectual property rights, expanding ASCE’s leadership in standards, resilience and sustainability initiatives, and producing two highly successful giant screen film and educational projects.
In addition to his role as ASCE executive director, Smith actively contributes to his community and profession as a member of the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals and the boards of the United Engineering Foundation, Renewable Natural Resources Foundation, and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE). He is also an ASCE Fellow, a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, the National Academy of Construction, and a past recipient of the ASCE William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award, and the University of Virginia Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.
The ASCE Board of Direction will be launching a comprehensive search process to identify Smith’s successor.
About the American Society of Civil Engineers
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 160,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation's infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.