Introduction to the
academy
Board Certification
Professional certification offered through the Academy ensures that coastal, ocean, port and navigation engineers have specialized knowledge and skills in their field of practice. Once your education, experience and expertise has been vetted by a panel, you are granted the one of the four certifications offered:
D.CE - Diplomate, Coastal Engineering
D.OE - Diplomate, Ocean Engineering
D.PE - Diplomate, Port Engineering
D.NE - Diplomate, Navigation Engineering
Differentiate yourself from your peers by applying for your certification. To maintain the certification, you are required to earn at least twenty professional development hours (PDHs) per year to stay up-to-date on new technologies and trends.
Why is Board Certification Important?
Board Certification within ACOPNE was created in 2009 to recognize engineers who have an advanced degree of knowledge and expertise in the specialized fields of coastal, ocean, port and navigation engineering. These individuals, who are endorsed with this Board Certification, are actively engaged in this professional practice, have obtained a baccalaureate degree in engineering, a master's degree (or over twenty-five year's experience) and a professional engineer license. With these skills and accomplishments, Board Certified engineer is one of the highest designations available and is recognized as a respected and credible professional within the field of civil engineering.
What is a Board Certified Diplomate?
A Diplomate is a Board Certified Professional and is considered one of the highest designations in the field, with less than 200 engineers achieving the status of Diplomate within the Academy. A Board Certified Engineer has had at least twelve years of progressive experience after earning their first engineering degree and has achieved a master's degree (or have over twenty-five year's experience). A Board Certified Geotechnical engineer has deomonstrated advanced knowledge in at least one of the four areas of civil engineering. An engineer becomes a Diplomate through achieving advanced experience, licensure, education as well as passing a board examination. Although, with enough experience, the exam is waived.
What is the Academy?
The Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineers is an elite group comprised of nearly 200 Diplomates who have gone through many years of training and experience to become eligible for Board Certification. The Academy is a way to recognize engineers who have a special knowledge and experience in the fields of civil engineering that comprise ACOPNE.
About the Certification Process
After submitting a completed application and a biography, curriculum vital (CV) or resume you will need to have three licensed engineers fill out a reference form. Once all three forms are received, your application is considered complete and will be reviewed after the next deadline (on a quarterly basis). It must then go to the Board for final approval. Once you’re approved, you will be invited to the next induction ceremony to receive your certification plaque and pin.
Requirements:
1. Professional Engineering License (or foreign equivalent)
2. Masters Degree (or 30 hours post-graduate education or undergraduate prior to 1985)
3. At least 12 years of work experience after earning your first engineering degree
4. Oral Examination (may be waived with enough experience)
Already a Diplomate?
You need to attain 20 professional development hours (PDHs) per year or 40 PDHs over a two-year period. To find out about upcoming educational opportunities, please click here.
COPNE-Profession
The COPNE-Profession comprises the individuals and professional organizations that are engaged in the sustainable development and protection of coastal, ocean, port, and navigation environments for the benefit of society in the United States and foreign countries. ACOPNE has in part been created to complement the Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI) and provides recognition to those individuals who have excelled in one or more of the sub-disciplines embraced by COPRI. In this regard, ACOPNE has defined the follow subspecialty fields of expertise consistent with the sub-disciplines contained in COPRI.
Coastal Engineering
Coastal engineering involves the practice of civil engineering, as well as the sciences of oceanography and coastal geology concerned with the interactions between water and land, including shorelines, bays, lakes, estuaries, inlets, river mouths, and harbors, and the structures within these environments.
Ocean Engineering
Ocean engineering involves the practice of civil engineering and the science of oceanography concerned with the design, analysis, operation, and planning of systems that operate in the oceanic environment.
Port Engineering
Port engineering involves the practice of civil engineering, environmental engineering, and the science of oceanography concerned with the planning, design, construction, maintenance, operation, pollution control, and technical functioning of ports and harbors.
Navigation Engineering
Navigation engineering involves the life cycle planning, design, construction, operation and life maintenance of safe, secure, reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable navigable waterways (channels, structures and support systems) used to move people and goods by waterborne vessels.
Additional Fields within the COPNE-Profession
The Board of Trustees, in the name of and on behalf of ACOPNE, may in its sole discretion identify and define additional suitable specialty fields of expertise within the COPNE-Profession.
ACADEMY NEWS
CESB: Certification vs Licensing
The Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards, CESB, published a consensus document on engineering credentials concisely describing licenses, certifications, the relationship between the two, their appropriate uses, and their benefits to consumers, employers, and practitioners. This document can be used to help those that may understand the difference between certification and licensing. Feel free to distribute the file. If you would like a hard copy of the brochure, please contact ACOPNE Staff by emailing us.
The Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) is currently in the application process to gain accreditation. The Academy of Geo-Professionals (AGP) and the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) is accredited through CESB.
(download by clicking pic)
Planning for the 2014 PIANC World Congress Continues - Kick-Off Event in S.F.!
A Kick-Off Event for the 2014 PIANC World Congress was held in San Francisco last month and drew a stellar crowd! The purpose of the event was to bring together local professionals in all aspects of navigation, ports, waterways and the environment from the private sector, government and academia to raise awareness and build support for the 2014 World Congress (which the U.S. Section of PIANC will host in June of 2014, in San Francisco). Congress Co-Chairs, the Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), and Mr. John Headland of Moffatt & Nichol, spoke briefly, introducing PIANC and inviting all those present to get involved in organizing and participating in the 2014 Congress.
Over 60 people attended the fun and informative evening. The event was held on the 39th floor of the Marriott Marquis, the Congress hotel. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers showed tremendous enthusiasm and support, especially with the attendance of Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General; Major General Michael Walsh, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations (DCG-CEO); and BG Michael Wehr, South Pacific Division Commander. Several local USACE division and district employees were present, as well as local officials from the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Oakland and Port of San Francisco.
On the following day, PIANC Commissioners met to further develop an organizational structure and detailed plans for the 2014 Congress. The overarching theme for the Congress is “Navigating the New Millennium.” Technical program themes and topics will include global navigation Issues of the 21st Century such as: climate change impacts and adaptation; life cycle asset management - coping with aging infrastructure; innovative investment in infrastructure; advances in information and communication technology such as e-navigation; safety, security and risk management in today's world; and turning competitive water uses into integrated multi-purpose water resource systems (transport, energy, recreation, ecosystems). There will also be technical topics under the more specific themes of Ports and Maritime Navigation, Inland Waterway Systems, Environmental Issues, Dredging, and Urban and Recreational Waterfronts.
At the Commissioners' Meeting, Chairs were selected for several key subcommittees:
• Technical Program Committee - Edward Schmeltz, AECOM
• Pre-Conference Workshops/Short Courses - James McCarville, Port of Pittsburgh Commission
• Exhibits and Sponsorships - Robert Engler, Moffatt & Nichol
• Accompanying Persons Program - Mr. Joseph Mantey, PIANC USA Treasurer
• Young Professionals Program - Jessica McIntyre, Moffatt & Nichol
• Local Events - Kelly Barnes and Anne Cann, PIANC USA
If you would like to serve on any of these subcommittees, please contact pianc@usace.army.mil.
The Call for Abstracts will be announced in May 2013. Until then, check out the Congress website for more updates.
The 33rd PIANC World Congress is a “must attend” conference for professionals involved in all aspects of navigation, ports, waterways and the environment, especially engineers, economists, operators, planners and policy-makers from private firms, government agencies and universities in the U.S. and all over the world.
33rd PIANC WORLD CONGRESS
San Francisco, California, USA
June 1 - 5, 2014
http://2014congress.pianc.us
For more information, please visit: www.iwr.usace.army.mil.
New Benefit for Diplomates!
Your dedication to the Academies of ASCE qualifies you for a Diplomate Professional Liability credit. This credit is an exclusive Diplomate discount on your ASCE professional liability insurance that could range from 5 to 7.5%. In many cases, the value of this discount alone may exceed your application and recertification costs.
ASCE’s Insurance Brokers with Lloyds of London recognize the value of Board Certification, knowing the Diplomate has demonstrated the mastery and use of a specialized body of knowledge, superior experience, strong ethics, and have a commitment to lifelong learning.
ASCE is confident your specialized knowledge and skills reduces the risk and liability of your projects. While our underwriters have the final decision on providing insurance after proper evaluation of your firm and its history, we will work with you to make sure you receive a fair premium and the premium credit that celebrates your expertise, strong ethics, and commitment to excellence. For more information, contact an ASCE Professional Liability Specialist at 800.650.2723.
Billy Edge to Receive Award from Virginia Tech
Congratulations to Billy Edge, Ph.D., P.E., D.CE, Dist.M.ASCE, for being elected a member of the 2013 class of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni, at Virginia Tech! He will be formally inducted in April 2013. The awards program began in 1998 and was initiated by the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the CEE Alumni Board. There are annual awards given to both younger alumni who graduated within the last 15 years as well as those who graduated many years ago.
This will be Billy’s second award over the past year, as he recently received a service award from the Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port & Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE). Billy served for two years as President of ACOPNE before serving a third as Immediate Past-President. He was honored at the latest induction ceremony as part of the Dredging 2012 conference in San Diego, California for his service in leading the Academy during its’ start-up.
To read more about the award that Billy will receive in April, please click here.
ACOPNE Inducts Diplomates at Dredging 2012 Conference
The Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port & Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) held their eighth induction ceremony on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 as part of the Dredging 2012 conference held in San Diego, CA. Five more Diplomates were inducted, including three Distinguished Diplomates. Distinguished Diplomates are civil engineers who have made significant contributions to the field but may not necessarily meet all the requirements for certification.
(From L to R: Kelly Barnes, ACOPNE Public Board Member, William H. Hanson, Dist.D.NE, Robert M. Engler, Ph.D., Dist.D.NE, M.ASCE, Edmond J. Russo, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.CE, D.NE, M.ASCE, Edward D. Allen, P.E., D.PE, M.ASCE, Eng. Louis J. Van Schel, M.S., Dist.D.PE, Michael A. Ports, P.E., P.H., D.NE, D.WRE, BCEE, F.ASCE, ACOPNE Immediate Past-President, Douglas A. Thiessen, P.E., D.PE, M.ASCE, ACOPNE Board Member)
The following five Diplomates received credentials:
Edward Daniel Allen, P.E., D.PE, M.ASCE
Vice President, Director of Quality, Ethics Compliance Officer
Moffatt & Nichol
Long Beach, CA
Diplomate, Port Engineering
Edmond J. Russo, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.CE, D.NE, M.ASCE
Chief, Ecosystem Evaluation and Engineering Division
USACE ERDC Environmental Laboratory
Vicksburg, MS
Diplomate, Coastal Engineering and Diplomate, Navigation Engineering
Robert M. Engler, Ph.D., Dist.D.NE, M.ASCE
Senior Environmental Scientist
Moffatt & Nichol
Vicksburg, MS
Distinguished Diplomate, Navigation Engineering
William H. Hanson, Dist.D.NE
Vice President
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company
Oak Brook, IL
Distinguished Diplomate, Navigation Engineering
Eng. Louis J. Van Schel, M.S., Dist.D.PE
Secretary General
PIANC
Brussels, Belgium
Distinguished Diplomate, Port Engineering
Additional notes –
Billy Edge, Ph.D., P.E., D.CE, Dist.M.ASCE, received a service award for his time working on the ACOPNE Board and as its first President at the ceremony but was unfortunately not in the photograph.
Michael A. Ports, P.E., P.H., D.NE, D.WRE, BCEE, F.ASCE, was the MC for the evening. ACOPNE Board Members Kelly Barnes and Douglas A. Thiessen, P.E., D.PE, M.ASCE were both on-hand to assist Michael in conducting the ceremony.
Add your credentials from ACOPNE on LinkedIn
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Adding Patents, Publications, Certifications, Languages and Applications to Your Profile
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