Honorary Chair:
Donald A. Bruce, Ph.D., D.GE, C.Eng., P.G. L.G., L.E.G.

Dr. Bruce holds degrees in Geology and Geotechnical Engineering from Aberdeen University, Scotland. He worked for specialty geotechnical contractor, Colcrete, Ltd., for almost 10 years in the U.K., Pakistan, Hong Kong, Egypt and the Middle East. He then joined Pittsburgh-based Nicholson Construction Company as technical director, working on projects throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1996, he established Geosystems, L.P., a consultancy specializing in the more practical aspects of micropiles, drilling, grouting, anchoring, diaphragm walls and deep mixing. He works throughout the world, principally as a member of boards of consultants or as litigation support.

He has published over 300 technical papers, and coauthored 3 textbooks. He is an active member of many professional societies, including ADSC, DFI, USSD, ASDSO, AEG and, of course, ISM.

Dr. Bruce has been awarded the Martin S. Kapp, Wallace Hayward Baker and Terzaghi Awards by ASCE, and was the ISM 2009 Lizzi Lecturer.

Dr. Bruce's interest in micropiles began in 1978 with underpinning works in London, England, and continued with one of the first micropile projects in Hong Kong in 1982. In the Nicholson years, he was active in the development of high-capacity micropiles throughout the U.S. and Canada and, in 1994, was appointed co-principal investigator of the FHWA's micropile State of Practice study, which was published in 1997, and formed the basis for the FHWA Implementation Manual in 2000 and 2005. As part of the original FHWA study, Dr. Bruce, together with Mary Ellen Large, now of Nicholson Construction Company and the executive director and treasurer of ISM, organized what were then called the International Workshops on Micropiles (IWM). This was a forum to exchange information between various international groups. The IWM morphed into ISM, and Bruce was chair until 2006 when, thoroughly exhausted, he accepted with great appreciation the role of honorary chair. He continues to present on micropile topics in seminars and short courses, including those organized by the National Highway Institute (NHI).