MAJOR GENERAL JAMES W. van LOBEN SELS, P.E. (Retired)

Highlights

• Commanded three divisions in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Director, California Department of Transportation
• A professional engineer who was “Principal in Charge” for the design of the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America located in Charleston, SC.
  

Biography

With more than 48 years experience managing military, transportation and water resources planning, engineering, and construction, Major General (U.S. Army Retired) James W. van Loben Sels brings a wealth of experience to Dawson & Associates.

He commanded three divisions of the US Army Corps of Engineers: the North Pacific (1981-1984), Europe (1984-l985), and North Atlantic (1988-1989).  In these assignments, General van Loben Sels gained significant expertise in water resources, coastal engineering, hydroelectric power, and environmental regulation.

He also commanded Fort Leonard Wood (1985-l988), now home of the Army Corps of Engineer School and retired in l991as Deputy Commanding General, US Army Training and Doctrine Command. 

In 1991, the Governor of California appointed General van Loben Sels the Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).  For the next seven years, he managed more than 20,000 employees while streamlining transportation planning, design and construction.

Under his leadership, CALTRANS oversaw the swift recovery of state freeways following the Northridge Earthquake.

From 1999 to 2008, he was a senior vice president of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a major engineering firm.  He was also the firm’s Principal in Charge for the design of the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, located in Charleston, SC.

General van Loben Sels is a 1959 graduate of West Point and a Professional Engineer, licensed in Virginia and South Carolina (retired).

Other Achievements

• Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board, an independent research and advisory body to the federal government and others on transportation-related issues (1996)

• National Associate of the National Academies (2001)

• Holds a Master of Science in Space Physics from the US Air Force Institute of Technology

• Elected there to the national engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi