DFI Traveling Lecturer

The DFI Traveling Lecturer is a prominent industry expert selected annually to travel and present a series of lectures to university students, professional groups and industry associations. The program promotes the field of geotechnical engineering and deep foundation construction by encouraging students to explore a career in the deep foundations industry, providing information on topics of interest to members of the industry, and raising awareness of how DFI and its activities support the industry. The lecture series runs from September 1 - August 31.

The 2021-2022 DFI Traveling Lecturer

Thomas D. Richards, Jr., P.E., D.GE

Tom Richards is retired chief engineer and now consultant at Nicholson Construction Company. For over 30 years at Nicholson, he dealt with technical aspects of a multitude of specialized geotechnical projects using micropiles, anchors, soil nails, diaphragm walls and numerous grouting techniques. Richards' responsibilities included design, quality control, research, testing and instrumentation. He was active in numerous committees of DFI, ADSC, PTI and ASCE, leading to frequent commenting on FHWA and other industry documents. He is a past chair of DFI's Micropile Committee and the Anchored Earth Retention Committee, and remains active on a few DFI and ADSC committees. He is also a member of The Moles. In 2019, Richards was awarded DFI's Distinguished Service Award.

2021-2022 Traveling Lecture Series Topics

There are several lectures to choose from under the broad topic, "Stories for 30 years of micropiles, anchors, diaphragm walls and grouting.""

• Dam Anchors
• Current Rock Grouting Practice for Corps of Engineers (COE)
• Mandalay Bay Micropiles
• Intro to Diaphragm Walls
• Static Pile Load Tests: Rules, Do's, Don'ts, Acceptance
• Working Platform Calculations - Lessons from Using FPS & BRE Methods

>Learn more about 2021-2022 Traveling Lecture Series Topics

>Request the Traveling Lecturer to speak at your event

>Nominate someone as a future Traveling Lecturer

Past Traveling Lecturers

2020-2021: David B. Paul, P.E., managing partner of Paul GeoTek Engineering and retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

2019-2020: Willie M. NeSmith, P.E., former chief geotechnical engineer for Berkel & Company Contractors.

2018-2019: John R. Wolosick, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, director of engineering at Hayward Baker Inc. (HBI) and past president of DFI