Akhtar Zaman, P.E., F.ASCE, founder of AES, a firm with recent direct impacts on public infrastructure, safety, and development in the region of northwest Indiana, has been named a fellow by the ASCE Board of Direction.
Zaman’s dream has been to contribute meaningfully to the field of geotechnical engineering and to serve the community through high-quality, reliable services. He came to the U.S. in 1994 and has worked as a geotechnical engineer numerous projects such as roads, highways, bridges, railroads, retail developments, residential subdivisions, and commercial and industrial facilities. He is a registered professional engineer in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
His greatest professional achievement has been founding an engineering firm “from the ground up” and leading it to become one of the region’s most respected geotechnical engineering and materials testing consultants. Starting such as thing is never easy, but launching it during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic made the path even more uncertain and difficult. With a vision and limited resources, Zaman started as a one-person operation, handling field and lab testing, report preparation, project management, and business development.
Through perseverance, hard work, and later with the support of a talented and passionate team, AES grew slowly but surely. In just six years, the solo venture has evolved into a thriving company with 20 employees. They are now recognized not only for technical expertise, but also for commitment to integrity, quality, and service.
Zaman is also very active in ASCE and played a key role in revitalizing the Northwest Indiana Branch. He is a past president of the NWI branch and the Indiana Section.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1992 and then working at a geotechnical firm in Dhaka, Zaman felt the urge for higher education for career advancement. He completed his master’s degree at Texas Tech University in 1996.
