WHO: Dr. Robert Holmes, PhD, P.E., BC.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE
TOPIC: Going Against the Current: How Floods and Curiosity Shaped My Career
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
WHERE: 125 Butler Carlton Civil Engineering Hall
Boone Bancroft Room
1401 N Pine St.
Rolla, MO 65409-0030
or Join Zoom Meeting
https://umsystem.zoom.us/j/97312051954?pwd=IVC75nPJlyUMqFlBP3smtEdUjapobQ.1
Meeting ID: 973 1205 1954
Passcode: 245722
Join us for an invaluable talk as Dr. Robert Holmes shares crucial lessons from a nearly 40-year career spanning both public and private sector practice and 18 years on the Missouri S&T faculty. You will discover why mastering technical excellence is only the foundation, and how softer skills like communication and teamwork, along with intellectual humility, truly elevate your professional impact. Hear firsthand accounts of how volunteering for the jobs nobody else wanted and embracing intimidating, uncertain challenges can accelerate your career growth. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to step out of your comfort zone and build a resilient, impactful engineering legacy.
Biography
Dr. Robert Holmes has been an Adjunct Professor and Research Associate in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology since 2008 teaching both undergraduate and graduate level courses in water resources engineering, hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport, river mechanics, and fluid dynamics and advising Master’s and PhD students. Dr. Holmes has BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the Missouri S&T and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois. Dr. Holmes is a Senior Principal Engineer for Wright Water Engineers, Inc. and has been a practicing engineer for over 39 years, including as an engineer and hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for over 34 years. His tenure with USGS included serving as the Director of the USGS Illinois Water Science Center from 1999 to 2008, USGS National Flood Specialist from 2008 to 2020, and Chief of the Branch of Hydrodynamics from 2017 to 2021. Dr. Holmes is a licensed professional engineer in Missouri, Colorado, Arkansas, and Kansas, a Board-certified Water Resources Engineer, a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a Fellow of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI), Past President of the Mid-Missouri Section of ASCE, and former Chair of the St. Louis Section of ASCE-EWRI.
ASCE Meeting Post Holmes Flyer
