credit] The first woman in American Society of Civil Engineers history to serve as president, Dr. Patricia Denese “Pat” Galloway, Ph.D., P.E., NAC, Pres.04.ASCE, has died at 67.
“I lost a chunk of my heart” on learning Galloway had passed away, said 2023 President Maria Lehman, a longtime friend since collaborating on the ASCE Board of Direction years before Galloway became 2004 president. Galloway and Lehman were just the second and third women to have served on the board.
“She was a great mentor to me,” one of a countless number of engineers Galloway mentored, Lehman said. “She was the only other woman I knew in the business who was more senior than me. She didn’t break through the glass ceiling; she exploded it.”
“Many women like me are reaching higher because she lifted us up,” said 2024 President Marsia Geldert-Murphey. “Her impact was immeasurable, and her legacy will continue to shine.”
Galloway’s civil engineering achievements were equally impressive. She was a co-founder in 2008 and co-chair of Pegasus-Global Holdings Inc., based in Cle Elum, Washington. This engineering consultancy has contributed to large, complex global “gigaprojects” including the expansion of the Panama Canal, London’s Crossrail project, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, several nuclear power facilities, and many more.
She was also a highly regarded, widely sought arbitrator and mediator, helping to resolve disputes in the U.S. and internationally in virtually all areas of infrastructure, including industrial, commercial, and power construction. She was a fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, becoming the first non-lawyer to be elected to the college, a fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a member of the Distinguished Academy of Neutrals.
Galloway earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University in 1978, a master’s degree in finance from the New York Institute of Technology, and her doctorate in infrastructure systems engineering from Kochi University of Technology in 2005. She earned a certificate in dispute resolution from Pepperdine Law.
In 1981 she joined the international management consulting firm Nielsen-Wurster, where she rose to chief executive officer and honed her arbitration talents. She was a registered professional engineer in 15 states, Canada, and Australia. She served on the boards of Stantec and Granite Construction and numerous other industry, civic, academic advisory, nonprofit, and governmental boards.
“My three keys to success – communication, confidence, and commitment,” Galloway advised in her forward to Becoming Leaders: A Practical Handbook for Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology, published by ASCE Press in 2008. She amended that later to add a fourth C: credentials. She was a prolific writer with more than 160 technical papers and journal articles and wrote a blog for Engineering News-Record on current trends in the industry. A special collection of her contributions to ASCE publications has been made available for free download.
Also in demand as a speaker, Galloway took part in nearly 200 speaking engagements, more than 45 keynote addresses, and multiple television interviews. She delivered a TEDx talk in 2014, “Are Engineers Human?” on the public perception of engineers, why it can be hard to attract youth, including girls and women, to STEM fields, and what can be done about it.
Galloway respected her place in civil engineering history and the legacy she inherited. She created and performed in a one-woman show, “So What’s Your Side of the Story?” about the story of Emily Roebling and how she became the first woman construction manager in the United States by overseeing the Brooklyn Bridge's completion. She was due to perform the show on Oct. 8 at the ASCE 2024 Convention in Tampa, Florida, and Lehman will perform it in her place as a tribute.
“Pat’s impact on ASCE and the profession was as large as the gigaprojects she worked on worldwide,” said ASCE Executive Director Tom Smith. “Pat was a trailblazing leader and civil engineering legend, and we remain grateful for her many contributions to ASCE and the profession.”
She received an honorary doctorate from the South Dakota School of Mines, was named one of Purdue’s Distinguished Engineering Alumni, and was elected to the National Academy of Construction, among other honors.
Galloway loved adventure, and her travels took her to all seven continents, including African safaris, Alaskan deep-sea fishing, horseback riding in Australia, a Galapagos Islands expedition, and beyond.
She is survived by her husband James Schill and her children Chri, Lia, Megan, Tanya, Tara, and Travis. She was predeceased by a first husband, Kris Nielsen, with whom she launched a foundation to assist scientists and engineers in developing creative and innovative ideas, and a New Jersey winery, Unionville Vineyards.
A memorial service followed by a celebration of her life will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. at Unionville Ranch, Cle Elum, Washington.
