Page 9 - ASME JRC 2018 Program

Speakers

2018 JOINT RAIL CONFERENCE WELCOME LUNCH/PLENARY SESSION Dr. Piervincenzo
Rizzo
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Assistant Professor
University of
Dr. Piervincenzo Rizzo, Assistant Professor Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh SWANSON School of
Engineering
Biography: Dept. of Civil &
Dr. Piervincenzo Rizzo received his Laurea (M.S. equivalent) in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Palermo, Environmental
Italy in 1998. After serving in the Italian Army Corps of Engineering, Dr. Rizzo moved to the U.S.A. where he received a Engineering
Master (2002) and a Ph.D. (2004) in Structural Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. In September 2006
he became Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Luncheon Speaker
where he founded the Laboratory for Nondestructive Evaluation and Structural Health Monitoring studies. He was Wednesday,
promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure in 2012. Dr. Rizzo’s research interests are in the area of April 18, 2018
nondestructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM) using methods such as ultrasound, acoustic 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
emission, solitary waves, infrared thermography, and electromechanical impedance. His research has been supported
by the National Science Foundation, the Federal Railroad Administration, the National Academy of Sciences, the Paul Skoutelas
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT). President and CEO
of the American
During his career, Dr. Rizzo received several honors and awards. From the ASNT, he received the 2002 Fellowship Public
Award, the 2007 Faculty Grant Award, the 2009 and 2015 Fellowship Research Award. He also won the Outstanding Transportation
Paper Award twice, in 2013 and 2017. Dr. Rizzo is the only person worldwide who has received both the Achenbach Association
Medal (in 2012) and the SHM Person of the Year Award (in 2015). The Medal recognizes one young individual who has
made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the field of SHM. The Award recognizes accomplishments Banquet/Keynote
within the past year or the past few years. Both honors are selected by the editors and associate editors of Structural Speaker
Health Monitoring: An International Journal, the top academic journal on the subject. He is also the recipient of the 2016 Thur. April 19, 2018
University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Junior Scholar Award. The award includes faculty across 8:00 PM-8:30 PM
the whole University, within 12 years from their Ph.D., who have demonstrated great potential and have achieved
international standing. 9

Dr. Rizzo published 92 referred papers, 8 book chapters, nearly 150 conference proceedings and reports, and 2 patents.

2018 JOINT RAIL CONFERENCE BANQUET & KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Thursday, April 19, 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Paul Skoutelas
American Public Transportation Association

Biography:
Paul Skoutelas, President and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association, has been a highly successful and
respected national leader in the public transportation industry for more than 40 years. Mr. Skoutelas served as CEO of
public transit systems in Pittsburgh and Orlando, and most recently as Senior Vice President of one of the world’s largest
architectural and engineering firms. Mr. Skoutelas was the National Director of the firm’s Transit & Rail Technical Excellence
Center (TEC). ln this position, he provided leadership and strategic direction with a focus on growing the firm’s transit and
rail business, enhancing marketing capabilities and strengthening client relationships. Mr. Skoutelas also has successful
tenures as chief executive officer at two prominent public transportation agencies - the Port of Authority of Allegheny
County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX), Orlando, Florida. His
achievements include the successful implementation of major capital programs including the South Hills Stage ll Light Rail
Program, the North Shore Rail Connector, a comprehensive rail station improvement program, major rail rolling stock
acquisitions and three Bus Rapid Transit projects; the Airport/West Busway, the Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway
Extension and the Orlando/Lymmo BRT.

A recognized and respected industry leader, Mr. Skoutelas has served on numerous boards and committees for
transportation organizations in leadership positions, including the American Public Transportation Association (APTA),
the Transportation Research Board, National Transit Institute, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, and the Transit
Cooperative Research program. Mr. Skoutelas holds an M.B.A. as well as M.S. and B.S. degrees in Civil Engineering,
and is a licensed professional engineer.