Vanden Bosch

A U.S. Military Academy classmate of Jon Vanden Bosch’s described him as, “Scary smart, generous of his talents, hardworking, a great engineer, and a quiet good friend.”  These sentiments are endorsed by Jon’s many friends and former associates.  One might add that Jon had a magnificent sense of humor -- dry as dust -- but thoroughly engaging.  He loved to learn; in fact, as with all real professionals, he never quit learning.  After graduating high in his West Point class, high enough to qualify for a coveted Corps of Engineers commission, his education was continued at military schools and colleges including the Army Engineer School, the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, and rather unusually, the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute.  His civilian education was hardly neglected as he obtained his Master of Science degree in civil engineering from Princeton.  He did graduate work in public works administration at Penn State, and in strategic planning at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.  He attended a program for senior executives in state and local government at Harvard University.  Attending school wasn’t enough for Jon; he taught classes at the University of Texas at Austin in his role as a Senior Lecturer.

Jon’s assignments in the Corps of Engineers provided the broadly diversified experience needed to grow and to assume increasing responsibility.  He was trained as a junior officer, having qualified in both airborne and ranger specialties.  He commanded soldiers at each level of command through the battalion.  His staff assignments were varied, both in the scope of duties and in the venue.  He served overseas in Europe, Korea, and Vietnam (twice).  He was decorated with multiple awards by both the United States and the Republic of Vietnam for exemplary performance of duty.  His last active Army assignment was as the District Engineer of the Galveston, TX District.  This is the type of assignment that exercises an officer’s every talent, professional engineering, political skill, writing and speaking expertise, and effective interaction with senior leaders of government and industry.  Public relations skill is a necessity, and Jon had all of this.  He exerted the US Government’s authority over construction and maintenance of the massive Houston port, maintenance of critical navigation channels, and protection of the long, sensitive Texas shoreline.  His portfolio included environmental protection and permitting, and recreational development.

Upon completion of his assignment as Galveston District Engineer, and his service as a US Army officer, Jon, a registered professional engineer in Texas, worked for a Houston-based consultant, rising very quickly to President of the firm.  Recognizing his abilities, Jon was engaged by the City of Houston, TX as its Director of Public works.  He held this position for five years before returning to private practice.  In 1992 Jon became an Associate Director of the Construction Industry Institute (CII).  He played a key role in expanding the Institute’s influence and its product inventory.  He was with CII for seven years, and it was during this time that he functioned as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas.  Concurrently with his executive work at CII and teaching, he started JCV Engineering to offer civil engineering and design studies.  He was fascinated by the challenge of Forensic Engineering investigations, and he pursued this interest.

In 2002 Jon accepted re-appointment to head Public Works for the City of Houston, where he labored for two years to restore the department to the level of excellence it enjoyed before he left the first time.  Jon’s beloved wife Ofelia helped him understand the politics and undercurrents that characterized and drove America’s fourth largest city.  Her political acumen and understanding are widely respected.

Jon loved nature and the outdoors.  He bought a home in a rural setting near Wimberley, TX.  He took great joy in watching the deer and wild turkey from their home.  One of Jon’s fondest memories was that of a wilderness camping trip to Canada that he and his son Jon III (who pre-deceased him) took together.  He and Ofelia built a home at 9,000 feet in a remote area of the Colorado Rockies.

Though by temperament hardly a “joiner”, Jon was a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the American Leadership Forum.  He was awarded the U.S. Army Combat Infantry Badge, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

In addition to his wife Ofelia, his daughter Anne Dowling, his granddaughter Elizabeth Dowling, his brother and his sister, Jon leaves the lasting memory of a “scary smart” guy and a great professional engineer.

-Charles I. McGinnis, 2016