June 19, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO - The American Institute of Steel Construction and the National Steel Bridge Alliance are thrilled to welcome back a familiar face: Brandon Chavel, PE, PhD. “The steel bridge industry is continuously innovating, with many exciting projects on the horizon," he said. “Our team is excited to continue to collaborate with bridge owners, designers, consultants, contractors, researchers, and steel bridge fabricators to address our nation’s current infrastructure challenges and develop the next generation of industry leaders.”

“Brandon’s years of experience and leadership in the bridge design community make him the perfect person to serve as the voice of America’s steel bridge industry,” said AISC Senior Vice President Scott Melnick. “His expertise will help our Bridge Initiatives department make a difference for our country--and everyone who relies on anything transported by vehicle or rail.”

Chavel, one of the nation's leading bridge designers, has spent the last few years as a technical advisor with Michael Baker International. Prior to that, he served as NSBA’s Director of Market Development. He also worked as a senior bridge engineer at HDR for 17 years. His extensive steel bridge design experience includes skewed and curved bridge analysis and design; erection and construction engineering; refined analysis; rehabilitation and repair design; and load rating. He has been a contributing researcher on several state-of-the-art projects related to the analysis and construction of horizontally curved steel girder bridges.

During his absence from NSBA, he remained involved in NSBA committees and chaired the NSBA Committee on Bridge Initiatives and AASHTO/NSBA Collaboration Task Group 11: Steel Bridge Design. He actively serves on several industry committees, including AREMA Committee 15 - Steel Structures, the TRB Standing Committee on Steel Bridges, and the Executive Committee for the International Bridge Conference. Recently, he was the bridge instructor for the SEAOI SE Exam Refresher Course and as an adjunct bridge engineering lecturer for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Civil Engineering.

Chavel, a licensed professional engineer, has led updates to and co-authored portions of the NSBA Steel Bridge Design Handbook. In addition, he has co-authored several articles, papers, and presentations related to steel bridge design and construction. Chavel earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He is based in Cleveland.