Commencement May 16, 2004

Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science

Conferred on John E. Breen

Candidate presented by: Dr. Thomas H. Wenzel

Dr. John E. Breen is an acclaimed civil engineer and educator who has influenced the principal design and construction standards for concrete bridges and buildings nationally and internationally. He is the Nasser I. Al-Rashid Chair in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has served as a member of the faculty since 1959. He has been active in the development of new and innovative reinforced and prestressed concrete bridge and building systems.

His research has garnered recognition and awards from organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the Prestressed Concrete Institute, the American Segmental Bridge Institute, and the International Federation for Prestressed Concrete. He received the 2003 Bridge Engineering Research Award from the Bridge Engineering Association, which cited him for his excellence in structural concrete research, column design, reinforcement development, general structural integrity, segmental bridge design, corrosion protection, and bridge aesthetics.

He is a member of a committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers which sets the design loads for buildings, and is also a member and past chair of the American Concrete Institute Building Code Committee for Structural Concrete. This committee develops the design and construction rules for all concrete buildings in the United States and in many foreign countries. Dr. Breen is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the nation's highest honor for engineering professionals.

He was chosen by the University of Texas at Austin Graduate Engineering Council to receive their Faculty Appreciation Award in 2003, an award which recognizes a faculty member who has fostered the well-being and professional development of engineering graduate students. In receiving this award, Dr. Breen commented, "I am aware of the extreme demands made on graduate students and want each one that I come into contact with to know that I respect their opinion and welcome their visiting my office. The students keep me young."

He earned his bachelors degree from Marquette University in 1953 and went on to earn his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

Because of his many contributions to civil engineering and because of his remarkable skills as an educator of future engineers, Reverend President, I hereby recommend John E. Breen for the Marquette Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.