The National Academy of Construction has selected Edd Gibson to be the next NAC president and CEO, commencing Jan. 1, 2023. The Executive Committee made their decision on July 20 after a nationwide search. Gibson will be formally introduced as the Academy’s leader at the NAC Hall of Fame Gala in Scottsdale, Arizona, in October.

Gibson, elected to the Academy in 2005, will replace Wayne Crew, who has been serving as the NAC president and CEO since 2015. The new leader for the Academy is currently a professor and the Sunstate Chair of Construction Management and Engineering at Arizona State University. He will retire from ASU at the end of 2022.

“Edd is an excellent choice to lead the Academy,” said Crew. “He has been involved in practically every activity that has been undertaken since he was elected and has been a proven leader in each of those efforts. The Executive Committee is extremely pleased that he stepped forward to be a candidate.”

Milo Riverso, the chair of the NAC’s search committee, agreed with Crew and said Gibson was a unanimous choice by the committee members. “I look forward to working with Edd to further NAC’s goals and to fulfill the Academy’s mission and vision,” he added. Riverso will serve as NAC chair in 2023 and 2024.

Elected to the Academy for “significant contributions in pre-project planning, risk assessment, dispute avoidance and resolution, research and continuing education,” Gibson’s participation in NAC reveals a level of energy and a dedication to excellence that is remarkable. In his 17 years of membership, Gibson has served as the co-chair and principal author of the NAC National Construction Forum, which eventually resulted in the Academy’s Executive Insight essays. He helped organize the NAC summit at ASU with the National Association of Public Administration. In 2018 and 2019, Gibson and his wife, Gail, served as chairs of the Academy’s auction, which was its fundraiser, and delivered outstanding results. Gibson currently participates as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and chairs the Scholarship Committee. Since 2020, the Scholarship Committee has granted awards to 15 college students who are studying for a future in the engineering, design and construction industry. Also in 2020, the Academy recognized Gibson with the initial Richard L. Tucker Outstanding Service Award, honoring him “for support of NAC over a sustained period of time that has enabled the Academy to grow and prosper.” The award’s namesake established NAC in 1999 as a way to recognize those in the engineering, design and construction industries who have made significant contributions over a career.

Gibson becomes the third leader for NAC in its 23-year history. Tucker served as the original general secretary, as the position was called in its founding, from 1999-2015. Crew will retire at the end of 2022.

“Edd adds to the legacy of strong leadership at NAC,” said Maggi Walker, current chair of the Academy. “His collaborative, inclusive and engaging approach fits perfectly with the NAC mission of recognition, honor and service.”

Gibson earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a doctorate, both from Auburn University. He also holds an MBA in engineering management from the University of Dallas. He spent four years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, four years at Texas Instruments and one year at North Carolina State University. He has held chair positions at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Alabama and Arizona State University, is a prolific author and has supervised over 100 master's and doctoral students. He served as a Fulbright Fellow in Norway and as a Visiting Academic Fellow at Cambridge University. He is the recipient of numerous research, teaching and service awards. In 2016, he was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers Peurifoy Award for Outstanding Research. He served as president of the Architectural Engineering Institute of ASCE and is now an ASCE Distinguished Member. He and Gail have two adult children, Stacey and Gaines. The couple make their home in Scottsdale, Arizona.