Dr. David W. Pittman
Deputy Director
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Dr. David W. Pittman

Dr. David W. Pittman became the deputy director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in April 2015. In the position, Dr. Pittman assists in managing one of the most diverse research organizations in the world – seven laboratories located in four states, with more than 2,500 employees, $1.2 billion in facilities, and an annual program exceeding $2 billion. The ERDC deputy director is located at the center’s headquarters in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

ERDC R&D supports the Department of Defense and other agencies in military and civilian projects. Principal research mission areas include Warfighter support, military installations, environment, water resources, and information technology. The ERDC has been named the Army’s R&D Organization five of the last eight years, and for the past three consecutive years.

Dr. Pittman began his career with the Corps as a research civil engineer in the Pavements Systems Division at the former Waterways Experiment Station (WES) in Vicksburg in 1983. He became an assistant professor in Auburn University’s Civil Engineering Department in 1994, and returned to WES in 1997 to become the chief of the Airfields and Pavements Division. In 2000, Dr. Pittman became the first deputy director of the newly formed Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory in ERDC. In 2002, Dr. Pittman became acting director of GSL and was selected as director of GSL in 2004.

Dr. Pittman has conducted research in many aspects of pavement design, analysis, evaluation, construction and properties of pavement materials. Much of his earlier work involved the development of design and construction procedures for roller-compacted concrete pavements. Dr. Pittman has served as chairman of the DOD Tri-Service Science and Technology Reliance sub-panel for airfields and pavements research, with the responsibility for leading the DOD’s efforts in pavements research to support the military’s missions in force projection and readiness.

Dr. Pittman graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University in 1983. He also received a master’s degree in civil engineering from MSU in 1988. He earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993.

He is a member of several professional engineering societies, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Society of American Military Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, and International Society for Concrete Pavements. He serves on several technical committees and has published numerous technical reports and papers. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Mississippi.