PhD 1964 in Mechanics and Hydraulics

Dr. John J. Cassidy (PhD 1964 in Mechanics and Hydraulics) has spent more than 48 years in management direction, supervision, and participation in hydraulic and hydrologic engineering and design studies for dams and hydroelectric projects, and water-resource development projects. He currently is an independent consultant specializing in hydraulic and hydrologic engineering. Dr. Cassidy was a member of the consulting board for the La Miel Roller-Compacted-Concrete Dam in Colombia, the Yacryeta hydroelectric project on the Parana River in Argentina, the proposed Maheshwar Dam on the Narmada River in India, and the Olivenhain RCC Dam near San Diego, Calif. He presently consults on the San Rocque Dam in the Phillipines.

Dr. Cassidy received his BS degree in 1952 and an MS degree in 1960, both in civil engineering, from Montana State University. In 1955, he joined the Montana State Water Conservation Board as a design engineer. From 1958 until 1963, he was an instructor in civil engineering and in hydraulics and fluid mechanics at Montana State University and The University of Iowa, while pursuing graduate studies in hydraulics and hydrology. In 1964, he earned his PhD in mechanics and hydraulics from The University of Iowa.

Dr. Cassidy was on the faculty at the University of Missouri from 1963-1974 and served as chair of the Civil Engineering Department there. He then moved to Bechtel Corporation as Assistant Chief Hydraulic Engineer and Director of the State of Washington Water Research Center. At the same time, he was Professor of Civil Engineering at Washington State University. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Dr. Cassidy was Chief Hydrologic Engineer at Bechtel, managing a team of 35 hydrologic and hydraulic engineers working on projects in the U.S., Algeria, Indonesia, and Bolivia. He then was named Manager of Bechtel’s Hydraulics/Hydrology Group in 1985 and subsequently became Manager of Geotechnical and Hydraulic Engineering Services in 1994.

Dr. Cassidy has served with the Hydraulics Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He was National Director of the U. S. Commission on Large Dams and Financial Chairman for the International Congress on Large Dams. He is a Bechtel Fellow, member of the National Academy of Engineering, and presenter of the American Society of Civil Engineers Hunter Rouse Hydraulic Engineering Lecture. He also was elected an Honorary Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), awarded the ASCE Hydraulic Structures Medal, elected an Honorary Member of Chi Epsilon, and received the Ray K. Linsley Award by the American Institute of Hydrology for Major Contributions in Engineering Hydrology.

Inducted: Friday, June 7, 2002