Active 4 years ago
1938-2021
F. H. (Bud) Griffis
Fletcher H. (Bud) Griffis passed away March 20, 2021, from complications due to COVID-19. Born on April 22, 1938, in Florida, Bud earned a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served for 26 years with distinction and with honor in the U.S. Army, retiring as a colonel in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). He later earned two master’s degrees and a PhD from Oklahoma State University. He also attended the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA.
I first met Bud in 1969 while we were both attending the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS. Over the ensuing 52 years, we were thinking partners, sharing leadership, wisdom, papers, and ideas.
Six months after graduating from West Point, Bud was both Airborne- and Ranger-qualified. Assigned to the 82d Airborne Division Engineering Battalion at Fort Bragg, he served as a platoon leader, executive officer, and company commander. He realized that he had found his calling. He went on to command Corps of Engineers construction and combat units in the U.S., Korea, Vietnam, Germany, and Israel.
In 1969, Bud served in the 36th Engineer Battalion in Vietnam and supervised the construction of 27 miles of the National Highway, the main supply route from the Southern Mekong Delta to Saigon. The road project earned him a Legion of Merit. He also received many other military honors, which are listed later.
In 1980 on assignment with USACE in Israel, he helped lead a fast-track project to build air bases in the Negev. Bud needed less than three years of a projected 10-year schedule to complete the project. He later served as Area Commander, Ramon Air Force Base, Israel. He retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1986 after serving three years as Commander and District Engineer of the New York District.
Following his military service, Bud began a second career, this time in academia. This led him to a full professorship for over 15 years at Columbia University. He served as the head of Columbia’s Construction Engineering Program and as director of the university’s Center for Infrastructure Studies. He continued his academic career as vice president and dean of engineering and applied science at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, NY, from1999 to 2006. He served as professor and as director of Polytechnic’s Center for Construction Management Technology. He also was in charge of all capital construction for Polytechnic University.
Bud was truly an outstanding example of the total giver. Once entering academia, his giving focused on three special professional organizations: the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the National Academy of Construction (NAC). When Bud was a member of a professional organization, he was completely dedicated to contribute and to serve in order to advance the organizations’ missions and goals.
In the SAME, he served as a Fellow, National Director, Chairman, National Convention 1998, Past National Director, and Director and Past President, New York City Post. He oversaw the SAME New York City Post Scholarship Fund, which has provided millions of dollars in scholarships to thousands of engineering and architecture students at colleges, universities, and service academies across the country. In 2007, SAME honored him with its Golden Eagle Award. In 2015, SAME presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. It was a fitting tribute.
During the ASCE 150-Year Anniversary Celebration in New York City, Bud was honored for his outstanding service as the Past District One National Director, Past Chairman, Audit Committee, Past Chairman, Committee on Continuing Education, Past Director and Past President, Metropolitan Section, Past Chairman, Committee on Professional Publications, Past Chairman, Construction Division, and Past Chairman, 1992 National Convention.
He was inducted into the National Academy of Construction in 2003, a member of the fourth class to be selected after its founding in 1999. In electing him to the Academy, NAC cited him as “a great construction engineer, a superb educator, a remarkable leader/manager, and a true gentleman.” He was dedicated in service to his profession. He had a track record of making big things happen. He made a tremendous addition to the Academy, being active in NAC for over 17 years. He served on the Strategic Planning Committee and was extremely active in the Safety Committee.
He worked with the building trades in New York City to bring about the “Zero Accidents” concept. Bud personally brought them zero accidents experience, including testimony from the successful engineering and construction company owner, zero accidents pioneer, and fellow NAC member, Jimmy Slaughter of S&B.
Bud’s third career was in the field of industry consulting, where he served as executive vice president in the firm of Robbins, Pope and Griffis (RPG). He specialized in organizing and managing large projects. He led RPG and was part of the management team on the reconstruction of several multi-billion dollar projects in New York City. He excelled in planning and leading extremely large value projects, setting records that will be difficult to match.
Few professionals can match Bud’s publishing record. He was studying, learning, and writing throughout his three careers. While in academia and consulting, he published over 18 Journal papers and over 100 articles, papers, and proceedings. He was a superb mentor in including his students in developing the content and the publishing of papers. He improved the knowledge of his students and other academics through writing and publishing. His 124 publications have been cited domestically and internationally over 530 times. He truly made a difference in many young engineers’ lives around the world.
Bud Griffis was the ultimate leader, dedicated to family, God, and country, a major contributor of new knowledge and wisdom, with worldwide sharing with soldiers, students, faculty, and local and international industry professionals. He added value to everyone.
Among his many honors, Bud was the recipient of the following recognitions:
U.S. Army: Legion of Merit (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (One Oak Leaf Cluster), and Vietnamese Honor Medal First Class
ASCE: Metropolitan Section Civil Engineer of the Year, Thomas Roland Finch Prize, Best Paper Award
Columbia University: Great Teacher Award, Society of Columbia Graduates
Nancy, Bud’s wife, is very talented and took care of their two sons, Fletcher and Gregory, throughout the many moves of an Army family, both abroad and domestically. They lived in Germany during Bud’s Battalion Command days. After his promotion to command Negev Air Field, the Griffis family lived in Israel for three years, with Nancy providing loving care and attention to the family. Both boys would later graduate from West Point and, like their father, go on to have fine military careers.
Bud and Nancy attended the National Academy of Construction annual meetings, and it was a pleasure to dine with them for 17 consecutive years at the NAC gatherings.
Bud’s funeral at West Point was attended by his family and many of his friends. He rests near the front gate at West Point Cemetery, near the center of the main campus and overlooking the Hudson River.
We all will miss a father, husband, soldier, engineer, academic, and author who connected with professionals worldwide. He was a truly wonderful person. God bless Bud Griffis and his family.
― Bill Badger
October 29, 2021
Bud was, as many of my colleagues attested, a scholar and a gentleman. He made tremendous professional contributions over his career in practice and in academia. What I remember personally about him was seeing him many mornings in the exercise room, wherever a CII or ASCE meeting was being held that we were both attending. He always had a friendly hello, and I was impressed by his level of discipline, well into his senior years. He did not appear to be interested in letting up. I admired that, and I will miss his presence.
― Carl Haas
Bud was a role model to all of us in so many ways; we’ll never forget him or his example.
― Joseph Schroedel
Bud was a loved mentor for a whole generation of construction academics. He is a huge loss to our community and we will miss him greatly!
― Lucio Soibelman
Bud had a distinguished career in the military and a second career in the academy where I had the pleasure of working with him. He was among the most talented leaders I've seen. A loss to our community, but a model for a lifetime of service.
― Bill O'Brien
Bud was a giant in our industry and brought a broad portfolio of talents, experiences, and contributions to the nation and to the engineering and construction community. He was a Military Academy Graduate whose career in the U.S Army as an Engineer enabled him to serve the public as a professional engineer focused on the nation’s infrastructure, both military and water resources. After retirement, he took his practicable experiences in management, engineering, construction, and research and transitioned from the military to both academia and his numerous professional associations where his contributions continued to be universally recognized for excellence. We’ll miss him but his contributions will endure through the careers of his many students and those of us who had the privilege of knowing and learning from him.
― Rick Capka
Bud was my commander when he had the New York District of the Corps of Engineers and I was a GS-13 Area Engineer in the early 1980s. I remained in continuous contact with him in the ensuing years and greatly valued his advice and counsel. He was a great mentor, colleague, and friend. I will miss him greatly.
― Tony Leketa
Bud was a very well-known professional engineer, academic, and spokesperson for the AEC community. His leadership was instrumental in growing scholarship funds for countless SAME sponsored engineering students. And, his statement that donations to this great cause would be "inviolate and in perpetuity" will always ring in my ears when I think of him. May he rest in peace.
― Frank Lombardi
I first met Bud in 1969 while we were both attending the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS. Over the ensuing 52 years, we were thinking partners, sharing leadership, wisdom, papers, and ideas.
Six months after graduating from West Point, Bud was both Airborne- and Ranger-qualified. Assigned to the 82d Airborne Division Engineering Battalion at Fort Bragg, he served as a platoon leader, executive officer, and company commander. He realized that he had found his calling. He went on to command Corps of Engineers construction and combat units in the U.S., Korea, Vietnam, Germany, and Israel.
In 1969, Bud served in the 36th Engineer Battalion in Vietnam and supervised the construction of 27 miles of the National Highway, the main supply route from the Southern Mekong Delta to Saigon. The road project earned him a Legion of Merit. He also received many other military honors, which are listed later.
In 1980 on assignment with USACE in Israel, he helped lead a fast-track project to build air bases in the Negev. Bud needed less than three years of a projected 10-year schedule to complete the project. He later served as Area Commander, Ramon Air Force Base, Israel. He retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1986 after serving three years as Commander and District Engineer of the New York District.
Following his military service, Bud began a second career, this time in academia. This led him to a full professorship for over 15 years at Columbia University. He served as the head of Columbia’s Construction Engineering Program and as director of the university’s Center for Infrastructure Studies. He continued his academic career as vice president and dean of engineering and applied science at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, NY, from1999 to 2006. He served as professor and as director of Polytechnic’s Center for Construction Management Technology. He also was in charge of all capital construction for Polytechnic University.
Bud was truly an outstanding example of the total giver. Once entering academia, his giving focused on three special professional organizations: the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the National Academy of Construction (NAC). When Bud was a member of a professional organization, he was completely dedicated to contribute and to serve in order to advance the organizations’ missions and goals.
In the SAME, he served as a Fellow, National Director, Chairman, National Convention 1998, Past National Director, and Director and Past President, New York City Post. He oversaw the SAME New York City Post Scholarship Fund, which has provided millions of dollars in scholarships to thousands of engineering and architecture students at colleges, universities, and service academies across the country. In 2007, SAME honored him with its Golden Eagle Award. In 2015, SAME presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. It was a fitting tribute.
During the ASCE 150-Year Anniversary Celebration in New York City, Bud was honored for his outstanding service as the Past District One National Director, Past Chairman, Audit Committee, Past Chairman, Committee on Continuing Education, Past Director and Past President, Metropolitan Section, Past Chairman, Committee on Professional Publications, Past Chairman, Construction Division, and Past Chairman, 1992 National Convention.
He was inducted into the National Academy of Construction in 2003, a member of the fourth class to be selected after its founding in 1999. In electing him to the Academy, NAC cited him as “a great construction engineer, a superb educator, a remarkable leader/manager, and a true gentleman.” He was dedicated in service to his profession. He had a track record of making big things happen. He made a tremendous addition to the Academy, being active in NAC for over 17 years. He served on the Strategic Planning Committee and was extremely active in the Safety Committee.
He worked with the building trades in New York City to bring about the “Zero Accidents” concept. Bud personally brought them zero accidents experience, including testimony from the successful engineering and construction company owner, zero accidents pioneer, and fellow NAC member, Jimmy Slaughter of S&B.
Bud’s third career was in the field of industry consulting, where he served as executive vice president in the firm of Robbins, Pope and Griffis (RPG). He specialized in organizing and managing large projects. He led RPG and was part of the management team on the reconstruction of several multi-billion dollar projects in New York City. He excelled in planning and leading extremely large value projects, setting records that will be difficult to match.
Few professionals can match Bud’s publishing record. He was studying, learning, and writing throughout his three careers. While in academia and consulting, he published over 18 Journal papers and over 100 articles, papers, and proceedings. He was a superb mentor in including his students in developing the content and the publishing of papers. He improved the knowledge of his students and other academics through writing and publishing. His 124 publications have been cited domestically and internationally over 530 times. He truly made a difference in many young engineers’ lives around the world.
Bud Griffis was the ultimate leader, dedicated to family, God, and country, a major contributor of new knowledge and wisdom, with worldwide sharing with soldiers, students, faculty, and local and international industry professionals. He added value to everyone.
Among his many honors, Bud was the recipient of the following recognitions:
U.S. Army: Legion of Merit (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (One Oak Leaf Cluster), and Vietnamese Honor Medal First Class
ASCE: Metropolitan Section Civil Engineer of the Year, Thomas Roland Finch Prize, Best Paper Award
Columbia University: Great Teacher Award, Society of Columbia Graduates
Nancy, Bud’s wife, is very talented and took care of their two sons, Fletcher and Gregory, throughout the many moves of an Army family, both abroad and domestically. They lived in Germany during Bud’s Battalion Command days. After his promotion to command Negev Air Field, the Griffis family lived in Israel for three years, with Nancy providing loving care and attention to the family. Both boys would later graduate from West Point and, like their father, go on to have fine military careers.
Bud and Nancy attended the National Academy of Construction annual meetings, and it was a pleasure to dine with them for 17 consecutive years at the NAC gatherings.
Bud’s funeral at West Point was attended by his family and many of his friends. He rests near the front gate at West Point Cemetery, near the center of the main campus and overlooking the Hudson River.
We all will miss a father, husband, soldier, engineer, academic, and author who connected with professionals worldwide. He was a truly wonderful person. God bless Bud Griffis and his family.
― Bill Badger
October 29, 2021
Bud was, as many of my colleagues attested, a scholar and a gentleman. He made tremendous professional contributions over his career in practice and in academia. What I remember personally about him was seeing him many mornings in the exercise room, wherever a CII or ASCE meeting was being held that we were both attending. He always had a friendly hello, and I was impressed by his level of discipline, well into his senior years. He did not appear to be interested in letting up. I admired that, and I will miss his presence.
― Carl Haas
Bud was a role model to all of us in so many ways; we’ll never forget him or his example.
― Joseph Schroedel
Bud was a loved mentor for a whole generation of construction academics. He is a huge loss to our community and we will miss him greatly!
― Lucio Soibelman
Bud had a distinguished career in the military and a second career in the academy where I had the pleasure of working with him. He was among the most talented leaders I've seen. A loss to our community, but a model for a lifetime of service.
― Bill O'Brien
Bud was a giant in our industry and brought a broad portfolio of talents, experiences, and contributions to the nation and to the engineering and construction community. He was a Military Academy Graduate whose career in the U.S Army as an Engineer enabled him to serve the public as a professional engineer focused on the nation’s infrastructure, both military and water resources. After retirement, he took his practicable experiences in management, engineering, construction, and research and transitioned from the military to both academia and his numerous professional associations where his contributions continued to be universally recognized for excellence. We’ll miss him but his contributions will endure through the careers of his many students and those of us who had the privilege of knowing and learning from him.
― Rick Capka
Bud was my commander when he had the New York District of the Corps of Engineers and I was a GS-13 Area Engineer in the early 1980s. I remained in continuous contact with him in the ensuing years and greatly valued his advice and counsel. He was a great mentor, colleague, and friend. I will miss him greatly.
― Tony Leketa
Bud was a very well-known professional engineer, academic, and spokesperson for the AEC community. His leadership was instrumental in growing scholarship funds for countless SAME sponsored engineering students. And, his statement that donations to this great cause would be "inviolate and in perpetuity" will always ring in my ears when I think of him. May he rest in peace.
― Frank Lombardi
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