Jean-Pierre Giroud has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest professional distinctions given to an engineer. His election citation reads: “For pioneering research in geosynthetics engineering and its practical application in civil/geotechnical engineering.”
J. P. Giroud, chairman emeritus of Geosyntec Consultants, was among 65 newly elected members into the Academy. Rudy Bonaparte, president and CEO of Geosyntec and himself a member of the NAE said: “Dr. Giroud is one of the foremost engineers in the world specializing in geosynthetics research and the application of these materials in the design of transportation, water resources, and waste containment systems.”
Giroud co-founded Geosyntec in 1983 and served as board chairman until assuming emeritus status in 2001. He has been engaged in the practice of geotechnical engineering since 1962.
Giroud has done pioneering work in the field of geosynthetics for 40 years and is recognized throughout the world as a leading expert in geosynthetics engineering. He coined the words “geotextile” and “geomembrane” in 1977 and was instrumental in the formation of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS).
Giroud has authored and co-authored seven books and more than 350 technical papers on subjects relating to foundation design, geosynthetics, dams, and waste containment facilities. He earned his engineering degree from the Ecole Centrale de Paris and his doctoral degree from the Universite de Grenoble in France. He is also Doctor Honoris Causa of the Technical University of Bucharest, Romania. Dr. Giroud currently operates as an independent consultant and can be reached at jpgiroud.com.