Description

Mr. Brian Maroney is a distinguished civil engineer currently serving as the Toll Bridge Seismic Retrofit Chief Bridge Engineer at Caltrans. Formerly the chief engineer of the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Mr. Maroney is renowned for his contributions to earthquake engineering and his pivotal role in enhancing community safety. With numerous accolades, including the Greta Ericson Distinguished Service Award, he has been instrumental in the design and creation of famous structures globally, including the Bay Bridge. The Bay Bridge that connects San Francisco and Oakland is the superhero of bridges in the region, dealing with over a third of the traffic on all state-owned bridges put together! Mr. Maroney joins us today to go in-depth about all things civil engineering, including how to earn the right to be called a Professional Engineer, why all civil engineers have to be environmentalists, how suspension bridges are built, his take on the classes you need to focus on if you want to pursue a career in bridge engineering, what sets earthquake engineering apart, and more. After this insightful episode, you’re likely to see the Golden State's iconic Bay Bridge in a new light (and maybe even decide to pursue a career in civil engineering too!)

Key Points From This Episode:

• An easy-to-understand definition of civil engineering.
• Insight into Mr. Maroney’s educational journey to become an engineer.
• The work engineers do under licensed supervising engineers. 
• How to earn the right to call yourself a Professional Engineer (PE). 
• Highlighting the differences between plans and specifications. 
• What it’s like in the office versus being in the field as an engineer. 
• Why all civil engineers have to be environmentalists too!
• Mr. Maroney’s thoughts on the scary aspects of working on a bridge.
• How suspension bridges like The Golden Gate Bridge work and are built.
• Exploring the concept of bridge engineering as a “team sport.”
• Bridge design and why it is sometimes a touchy or controversial issue. 
• The lengthy public and environmental processes that are often part of civil projects. 
• Aspects of making any well-designed bridge work. 
• Getting art into the design of community bridges. 
• Tearing down structures, objects, and homes to build bridges.
• Bridge engineers as public servants. 
• Mastering the art of report writing and other written aspects of engineering.
• Critical conditions of a bridge’s life: the importance of sequencing and staging. 
• Navigating earthquakes in California and what sets earthquake engineering apart.
• The best parts of Mr. Maroney’s career and his advice for listeners thinking of pursuing a similar career path. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brian Maroney on LinkedIn

‘Brian Maroney: 3 cheers for those who get it done’

Caltrans

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

University of California Davis

California High-Speed Rail

NEPA, National Environmental Policy Act

Lincoln Logs

American Society for Civil Engineers Club

American Society for Mechanical Engineers