Oct. 16, 2013
The National Academy of Construction (NAC) has selected Richard L. Tucker to receive the organization's Ted C. Kennedy Award. The award is given only when a worthy recipient is identified by the NAC, a select organization made up of industry leaders whose present or past professional career demonstrated outstanding contribution to the effectiveness of the engineering and construction industry.
The award, created in honor of the late Ted C. Kennedy, is designed to honor the contributions of a single individual. Kennedy was the founder of BE&K and built the company from a pulp and paper contractor to become a worldwide leader in energy, chemicals, healthcare, steel, automobile manufacturing, fiber optics/communications, and commercial building projects.
Tucker was instrumental in forming the Construction Industry Institute (CII), established in 1983. For the first time, the institute brought together owners, contractors, and academics to lead construction research studies to improve one of the nation’s largest industries.
He also created the Construction Productivity Improvement (CPI) Conference, helped initiate the first meetings and now serves as an honorary member of the International Association of Automation and Robotics in Construction. He also created the National Academy of Construction and founded the American Society of Civil Engineers Construction Institute. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and has served as an officer in the ASCE and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).
Additionally, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Independent Project Analysis (IPA) and is on the Bentley Systems Executive Panel. He has been honored by numerous industry organizations, served on many research and education committees, and is a distinguished alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering.
Tucker will be honored at the annual NAC meeting in Scottsdale, AZ.
