Edward O. Watson Jr. named director of university planning design and construction
Edward O. Watson Jr., associate vice chancellor, facilities management services for the Virginia Community College System, has been named director of university planning design and construction at Virginia Tech. He will begin his position Jan. 1, 2011.
Reporting to the associate vice president for facilities services, Watson will provide leadership for the development, delivery, and close-out of all university new construction and renovation projects in accordance with university and Commonwealth of Virginia policies, procedures, and guidelines. In addition, he will oversee the engineering, modeling, and regulatory compliance of various campus infrastructure systems such as storm water, domestic water, and sanitary sewer, as well as the interface of these systems with the local municipalities. Watson will supervise several units in Facilities Services, including Project Development and Management, Business and Contracts Management, Site Development and Compliance, and Customer Service.
As the associate vice chancellor of facilities management services for the Virginia Community College System since 2001, Watson was responsible for all facilities-related issues for more than 8.8 million-square-feet of academic space. He managed all capital outlay programs for the entire 40-campus community college system.
From 1995 to 2001, he served as director of architecture and engineering services for the Virginia Department of Corrections. From 1991 to 1995, Watson was director of project management for Durham (N.C.) County Government. He also held posts as assistant county engineering for Durham County; utility engineering for the City of Petersburg, Va.; and district engineering for Gould’s Pumps, Inc. in Seneca Falls, N.Y.
Watson is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, and the Construction and Maintenance Institute. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
