Gilbert Arthur Hegemier, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Structural Engineering
ASME Fellow

I am Gilbert Arthur Hegemier, a structural engineer and academic who has dedicated my career to advancing public safety through innovations in structural and earthquake engineering, as well as applied physics. As a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), I have had the privilege of contributing to the growth of the institution as one of its founding faculty members.

My journey in engineering began at the California Institute of Technology, where I earned my M.S. and Ph.D. in Solid Mechanics and Structures. Early in my career, I worked with organizations such as TRW Systems Space Technology Lab and the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, where I honed my skills as a mechanical engineer. However, it was the 1971 San Fernando Valley and 1972 Nicaragua earthquakes that shifted my focus towards developing engineering solutions for earthquake safety. Since then, my work has centered on improving retrofitting techniques for bridges and other infrastructure to withstand seismic events, a mission that was notably tested during the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake, where our retrofit systems helped protect critical bridges.

At UCSD, I founded the Charles Lee Powell Structural Systems Laboratories, serving as its first Director. This facility was designed for full-scale experimental testing of various structural systems and remains a vital hub for research collaborations between academia and industry. I also had the opportunity to play a key role in establishing the Department of Structural Engineering in 1998, which broadened our focus to include civil, aerospace, and marine structures.

My research has expanded over the years to include protective technologies for blast mitigation, aiming to safeguard critical infrastructure against both natural disasters and man-made threats. My work has involved collaborations with governmental agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and I’ve led full-scale tests on blast protection at locations such as the White Sands Missile Range and UCSD’s Powell Laboratories.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to receive several honors, including the Revelle Medal (2022), the CERF Charles Pankow Award for Innovation (1996), and UCSD’s Chancellor’s Associates Shiley Achievement Award (1994). I have been a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) since 1997, and in 2024, UCSD established an endowed Chair in my name, an honor that reflects my lifelong commitment to advancing the field of structural engineering.

My work has always been driven by a desire to protect public safety and improve the resilience of our built environment. Through research, teaching, and collaboration, I continue to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that address seismic, blast, and other structural challenges.