On October 21, 2022, Mr. R. David Curfman delivered the annual Vecellio Distinguished Lecture. Curfman is the Chief Engineer and Assistant Commander for Planning, Design, and Construction for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command.

David Curfman’s talk “Building Your Future, Values-Built Leadership” provided a method for developing an engineering career for “turning dreams into reality every day”. He described each of the four steps in the method and provided actions that student, practitioner, and academic engineers can use to grow their career and change the world for the better. Illustrated with examples of influential engineers, US Navy construction, and his own career as NAVFAC’s Chief Engineer, Mr. Curfman inspired the audience to “work for something bigger than yourself.” 

“Messages such as those provided by Mr. Curfman in the 2022 Vecellio Distinguished Lecture are exactly the kind needed by our students and other engineers to plan and implement careers that turn Virginia Tech’s motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) into reality," said David Ford, Vecellio Professor of Construction Engineering and Management. 

This was the 21st annual Vecellio Lecture which was made possible by the $1 million endowment provided to the Construction Engineering and Management Program in Virginia Tech’s Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering by the Vecellio Family Foundation and individual family members.

“The Vecellio Endowment allows our program to bring a distinguished speaker to campus annually to provide insights about contemporary issues or trends in the construction industry to our students, faculty and the broader Virginia Tech community. This is a tremendous benefit to our program," said Michael Garvin, Professor and Coordinator of the Vecellio Construction Engineering and Management Program. 

Videos of previous Vecellio lectures can be found here.

Many students, faculty, alumni, and guests gathered in Hancock Hall to hear the presentation and gathered for a reception in the Hancock Hall auditorium.  

Vecellio Reception
R. David Curfman visits with students following the Vecellio Lecture.