Bob Ryan
- Assistant Teaching Professor
Bob Ryan is a licensed Civil Engineer with nearly 20 years of diverse experience spanning the roles of contractor, designer, and owner. His career has focused on delivering complex heavy-civil infrastructure projects, including deep foundations, bridges, structural steel, marine structures, paving, and cast-in-place concrete. Ryan brings a unique 360-degree perspective to project delivery, having led initiatives from the field to the boardroom across private industry and federal agencies. Prior to teaching, Ryan provided a leadership role in the $20B+ Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). His career has been marked by a builder鈥檚 mindset, strong technical acumen, and a proven ability to guide diverse teams through complex projects鈥攐n time and within budget. Ryan鈥檚 professional journey includes experience in project controls, estimating, superintendence, project management, and field engineering. He has led major pursuits worth billions of dollars, executed complex heavy-lift operations, and contributed to nationally recognized projects. He has also helped build and scale businesses, formalized DBE program practices, and standardized cost estimating methodologies. An influential member of the Cost Engineering Community of Practice, Ryan has chaired technical boards, authored guidance, and championed innovation in cost management at NAVFAC. He excels in briefing executive stakeholders, resolving conflicts, and aligning teams around shared goals. His leadership is defined by clarity under pressure, a commitment to mentoring, and a focus on continuous improvement. Ryan鈥檚 academic background complements his professional experience. He earned multiple degrees while working full-time, culminating in a doctoral dissertation analyzing cost variance across more than 12,000 projects鈥攄emonstrating his dedication to data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.
Education
Ph.D., Construction Management, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2020
Master of Engineering, Civil Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 2018
Master of Science, Construction Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 2012
Bachelor of Science, Construction Management, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL, 2008
Affiliations
Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), member
American Institute of Constructors (AIC), member
Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE), member
National Society of Professional Engineers, member
American Society of Civil Engineers, member
The Dispute Resolution Board Foundation, member
