Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 

Douglas E. Barnhart

Distinguished Engineer

2002

Degree

Civil Engineering – 1969

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 2002

Douglas E. Barnhart is originally from Merkel, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech in 1969. While at Tech he was a member of the Catholic fraternity Chi Rho, the American Society of Civil Engineers and on the Dean’s List.

Immediately after graduation he was sworn in as an Assistant Public Works Officer and Shops Engineer at Navy shore installations consisting of 15,000 military and civilian personnel. While he was Designated Assistant Officer in Charge of Construction, he had management responsibility for 50 civilian engineers, including registered civil, mechanical and electrical engineers. In 1972 he became a Resident Officer in Charge of Construction responsible for U.S. Government administration of construction contracts from time of award through completion on three major Naval shore installations. He oversaw an average contract workload of 35 construction contracts having a total value in excess of $50 million. Upon leaving the Navy, Mr. Barnhart joined C. E. Wylie Construction Company as project manager and in 1975 became Vice President of Operations for the company. In 1983, he decided to establish his own full service general building, engineering and construction management firm – Douglas E. Barnhart, inc. As CEO and President of the San Diego, California based general contracting firm, his firm has completed many large construction projects including the $92 million Lindgergh Field Terminal 2 Expansion at the San Diego Airport, the San Diego Chargers Training Facility, numerous university and high school buildings in California as well as government, health care and performing arts projects. The firm is ranked nationally as the 13th Largest Educational Builder. His firm currently has 250 full time employees and has yearly sales in the $180 million range.

Mr. Barnhart is an Executive Board member of the Associated of General Contractors (AGC) national organization; member of the American Arbitration Association; former Governor Pete Wilson appointee and Chairman of the California Contractors State License Board; Chairman and Director of the Construction Apprenticeship Trust for the San Diego AGC; 1994 President of the San Diego AGC; Secretary and Director of the AGC Pension Trust; Past Chairman of the Heavy–Industrial Division of the AGC in 1999 and 2000; Past Chairman and Director of the National AGC Naval Engineering Committee; and Black Contractor’s Association (BCA) Advisory Board member.

In addition to being a construction industry leader, Mr. Barnhart is also heavily involved in the San Diego community, including: board member of San Diego National Bank; board member of the San Diego International Sports Council; 2003 San Diego Super Bowl Task Force; and Chairman of the Qualcomm Stadium Board. He is also a member of TTU’s Civil Engineering Academy.

He and his wife, the former Nancy Godfrey of Anson, Texas have two daughters, Tara Barnhart of Long Beach and Tami Barnhart Reese of San Diego.

Texas Tech University is honored and proud to name Douglas E. Barnhart as DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.

Return to the Past Winners page.