Thornton Tomasetti Senior Principal Bob Smilowitz, a recognized expert in blast-resistant analysis and design, has been named to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Bob is one of 150 new members inducted into the academy, which is considered one of the highest professional honors in the field of engineering. He was elected by his peers “for protecting lives from acts of terrorism through vulnerability assessment, threat mitigation, and building standards development.”
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Bob has been involved in the design of a number of high-profile projects, such as the United Nations Headquarters, The Pentagon and a NATO command center. He also served as the principal blast engineer for redevelopment of the former World Trade Center site, including 1WTC and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
“Bob set a new standard for security, resilience and thoughtful design,” Senior Consultant Ray Daddazio, a Thornton Tomasetti past president and past president and CEO of legacy firm Weidlinger Associates, said. “His influence is felt far beyond our firm, shaping industry standards and inspiring the next generation of engineers.”
It’s been a busy few months for Bob. He was recently presented with the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Ernest E. Howard Award, which recognizes an ASCE member for their contributions in advancing the field of structural engineering. Bob is the 10th engineer from Thornton Tomasetti and Weidlinger Associates to achieve the distinction of NAE membership. He, along with rest of NAE’s Class of 2025, will be formally inducted during the organization’s annual meeting in October.
