Gary Brunner Receives 2022 Ven Te Chow Award from ASCE

Gary Brunner, PE, D.WRE, M.ASCE, senior water resources technical advisor with HDR, has been selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers as its 2022 Ven Te Chow award winner. 

The annual award recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of hydrologic engineering. It is presented to individuals whose careers in this field have been distinguished by exceptional accomplishment and significant contribution in research, education or practice. 

Brunner brings world-renowned experience in developing and applying hydrologic and hydraulic modeling software to solve water resources issues. He is the original author of Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System software known as HEC-RAS and led the development of the software from 1991 to 2021.  Brunner also developed and implemented the most robust testing protocols for this kind of software. Because this software has such a robust range of capabilities and it has been extensively tested and validated, HEC-RAS has become the most widely used river hydraulics software program in the world.

According to Mark Forest, HDR’s floodplain practice lead, Brunner’s “contributions have improved our ability to better define, manage and design for flood risks with more confidence and less cost than would have been possible without his contribution to our industry, which has led to improved public safety.” 

Brunner is widely published on HEC-RAS and has been teaching and lecturing on a variety of HEC-sponsored short courses that cover a broad range of water resource topics. Additionally, he has developed and delivered HEC river hydraulics classes, and hydrologic and hydraulics courses for dam safety.

Brunner will be presented with this award at the ASCE Environmental & Water Resources Institute conference in June 2022.