Varela-Ortiz named HENAAC Most Promising Engineer

29 Aug 08 -- Vicksburg, Miss. -- Wilmel Varela-Ortiz, ERDC-GSL, has been named “Most Promising Engineer” in HENAAC’s 2008 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics awards competition.  For 20 years, HENAAC has recognized the achievements of America’s best and brightest engineers within the Hispanic community.

As a research civil engineer in GSL, Varela-Ortiz has served as principal investigator on seven structural research projects.  One such project was the Passability Assessments of the heavy equipment transport system and M1A1 Military Vehicles on South Korean Bridges, of which Varela-Ortiz was responsible for both the planning and the development, and execution process of field studies and finite element models.  This study set new standards and provided confidence in determining live-load distribution factors for heavy military vehicles on steel beam bridges.  The study showed these military vehicles have better load distribution than civilian vehicles; therefore, they can safely cross bridges designed for civilian vehicles.  Following the study, the South Korean government agreed to apply the refined models for the evaluation of their bridges to military loads, which will reduce the number of bridges that have to be replaced, saving millions of dollars to both governments.

In addition, Varela-Ortiz has been heavily involved in other studies and serves as a subject matter expert in military bridging for ERDC’s TeleEngineering Operations Center to support our nation and ensure the safety of our Soldiers. 

Varela-Ortiz earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus.  He was the first member of his family to earn a college degree.  During the time he pursued his degree, he earned numerous awards for high honor distinction, culminating with the Etienne Totti Award for the Civil Engineering Department’s most outstanding student.  Subsequently, he pursued his graduate studies earning his master’s in 2007.  Based on his success, he was selected to attend ERDC’s summer program during 2003 and 2004.  In 2005, he accepted a position as a research civil engineer at ERDC.  His first research project was his thesis dissertation topic, which he completed in 2007.

Varela-Ortiz is a native of Bayamón, Puerto Rico.  He will receive his award at the HENAAC Awards Show Gala in Houston, Texas, Oct. 11.