2008 OPAL Winner - Management

John M. Dionisio, P.E., M.ASCE

In his more than 35 years of experience, John M. Dionisio, P.E., M.ASCE has worked on some of the most significant civil engineering projects in North America. These have included the planning and development of the JFK 2000 Redevelopment Program at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York; design of the U.S. Naval Surface Action Group Homeport at Stapleton, New York; and design and construction of the Tren Urbano rapid transit system in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

His recent leadership on two landmark New York City projects, design of the Second Avenue Subway and development of the World Trade Center Permanent PATH Terminal at Ground Zero, with world-class architect Sanitago Calatrava, has solidified Mr. Dionisio’s reputation as an outstanding civil engineer. It is this in-depth knowledge and understanding of the civil engineering profession that has allowed him to also achieve remarkable success in the area of management.

Mr. Dionisio became president of DMJM Harris, an AECOM operating company, in 1999. Under his guidance, the firm experienced dramatic growth, becoming the cornerstone of AECOM’s current ranking as the largest transportation engineering company in the U.S., according to ENR magazine. He became Chief Operating Officer of AECOM in 2003 and President and CEO in 2005, providing the global leadership and vision that has made AECOM the country’s largest pure design firm in ENR’s latest Top 50 Design Firms survey, with more than $4 billion in revenue over the last 12 months.

In early 2007, Mr. Dionisio led the initiative to take AECOM public and, in one of the largest Initial Public Offerings of the year, the firm began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in May. The move was heralded by Wall Street and significantly increased value for the firm’s shareholders. A majority of AECOM’s common stock, more than 50 million shares, is held by its engineer employees located around the world.

Mr. Dionisio has become a recognized media spokesman and advocate for the civil engineering profession and construction industry in general. He has commented on global infrastructure issues on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” with Bob Pisani, “Mad Money” with Jim Cramer and “Street Signs” with Erin Burnet, as well as being featured on the cover of ENR magazine.