Interview with Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero

Dr. Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE is currently a Geotechnical Project Manager/ Laboratory Manager at AGES, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA, and also an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh. He has been a practitioner in geotechnical engineering for more than two decades, specializing in the design of deep/shallow foundations, earth retaining structures and landslide stabilization. Dr. Lobo-Guerrero has authored more than 150 technical papers and presentations published in journals, geotechnical publications, and conference proceeding worldwide. He is also a co-author (and implementation instructor) of the State of Delaware LRFD Bridge Design Manual.

Dr. Lobo-Guerrero is a former Chair of the ASCE Geo-Institute Pittsburgh Section and a former Director of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section. Sebastian has served as Chair of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) 2020 and 2022 Conferences, and he serves on the DFI Anchored Earth Retention Committee. He is currently serving as a Trustee on the Academy of Geo-Professionals. Among his notable recognitions and honors include: 2022 DFI President's Award; 2021 ASCE Lifetime Achievement (Region II); 2020 ASCE Civil Engineer of the Year - Pittsburgh Section; 2016 ASCE Geo-Institute Distinguished Reviewer; 2006 ASCE Geo-Institute Best Paper on Numerical Modelling.

In this D.GE interview feature, Sebastian shares on his life in native Colombia, love of geotechnical engineering, his career path, leadership and his personal interests.
 

Most fun/memorable project: The forensic investigation of the Chirajara Bridge collapse in Colombia, South America in 2018. High profile project that represented many things professionally. Starting with going back to Colombia as a foundations expert and 17 years after leaving the country to pursue my MS and Ph.D. studies in the US. A project with incredible technical challenges from field work, to analyses, and beyond to evaluate if the foundations were the cause of the collapse. Unfortunately, this high point of my career came because of the collapse of a structure where 10 people were killed. So, I am not sure it was “fun” but by far, the most relevant and meaningful project I have ever done.