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1934-2023
Walter C. Bell
Walter C. Bell passed away on April 23, 2023, at the age of 89. He was inducted into NAC in 2003 for leadership and management contribution to efficient, cost effective, innovative, and environmentally sound global transportation projects. His nominator was Jim Lammie, with references Vald Heiberg III and Don Gunther.
Walt was extremely well qualified for election into NAC through his demonstrated contributions and executive leadership in management, organization, and innovation for infrastructure projects, particularly mega transportation projects. Projects of this kind are essentially team projects with individual achievements difficult to identify. However, the existence and successful functioning of the teams on these projects are a testimony to his effectiveness. He led the $9 billion UK Section of the Channel Link tunnel, on budget and schedule. He had previously restudied the troubled Korean High Speed Rail program that resulted in a presidentially approved major restructuring. He was also involved in largest transportation project in the U.S. in the early 2000s, the Central Artery project in Boston. Bell was Chairman of the JV Board of Control, which provided policy direction, client interaction and technical overview on the $14 billion project. He chaired the JV Board for the billion-dollar plus extensions for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system. Bell worked closely with the BART staff in setting up this design-build demonstration project. His strong personal involvement on other projects is a history of transportation in the U. S. and abroad- the new Denver Airport, the Las Vegas airport expansion, the Baltimore and Sacramento light rail lines, the difficult Athens Metro subway. His inspiring track record was epitomized by partnering, his commonsense approach to problem resolution, and a consistent focus on cost and schedule. He was a mega project manager at the highest level, a distinction worthy of the special recognition of election to the NAC.
Walt graduated with a BSCE from Polytechnic University of Brooklyn in 1955 and with a MSCE in 1960 from Purdue. He was named as a Distinguished Engineering Alumni of Purdue Engineering in 1996.
In guest lecturing to undergraduates in a class in the early 1990s, Walt shared the following story, “at the end of the talk, one of the students asked, "What should we get a graduate degree in?" I answered that the real question is where do you want to be? They all said they wanted to be where I was. So, I told them to get a degree in psychiatry or law, because in this business you get so involved in the contractual aspects and in managing people. I found the Army to be a great training ground for psychology because you interface with so many people so often. I learned along the way, with a lot of scars and knocks.”
Walt’s career was stellar as he retired as a Senior Vice President for Bechtel Corp in the early 2000s. From 1998 to 2003, he served as Managing Director, Union Railways North, building of the UK link of the Channel Tunnel to link Paris and Glasgow by high speed rail. In October 1997, he served as head of the Bechtel management team to reorganize Korean High-Speed rail including Presidential Commission Report which restructured the total program. From 1993 to 1997 Sr. VP, Bechtel Corp., responsible for $1.5 billion of Bechtel Civil operations in North and South America. From 1990 to 1992 he progressed from Deputy of the Surface Transportation business line with responsibilities for high-speed rail, rapid transit, tunnels, and magnetic levitation to manager of all surface transportation projects, and then to Sr. VP. From 1989 to 1990 he was President/CEO of Morrison International, part of Morrison Knudsen, with responsibility for corporate development, strategic alliances, structuring of financing and general management of operations. From 1981 to 1989 he moved from North America VP to President of MK Engineers, Inc. He had specific project responsibilities for design of the Anchorage-Fairbanks 345 KV Intertie in Alaska, management of the West Coast Pumping System in Utah, the I-90 highway project in Seattle, the New Denver Airport and the first segment of the Baltimore Light Rail Line.
From 1955 to 1981 retiring as a Colonel, Walt served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with increasing positions of responsibility from troop unit to major water resource and infrastructure development projects. NAC member, LTG Vald Heiberg, former USACE Chief of Engineers, considered Walt as one of best Colonels who served under him during his career. Of special note was his detached assignment to the TVA Guntersville Lock Construction project from 1963 to 1966. Also, from 1978 to 1981 he was responsible for the design/construction of 4 major dams, including Harry Truman with a Hydro Power Plant and Clintion a 3000 ft. earth fill dam, and also maintenance of the Missouri River, for 500 miles from Rulo NE to St. Louis, MO, and as Director U.S. Army Engineering Studies center, 1976-1978.
Throughout his career, Walt was in the middle of the action, making sense out of chaos and quietly leading teams to successful and innovative conclusions in the best interests of the nation, society, and his employer.
― Edd Gibson
Walt was extremely well qualified for election into NAC through his demonstrated contributions and executive leadership in management, organization, and innovation for infrastructure projects, particularly mega transportation projects. Projects of this kind are essentially team projects with individual achievements difficult to identify. However, the existence and successful functioning of the teams on these projects are a testimony to his effectiveness. He led the $9 billion UK Section of the Channel Link tunnel, on budget and schedule. He had previously restudied the troubled Korean High Speed Rail program that resulted in a presidentially approved major restructuring. He was also involved in largest transportation project in the U.S. in the early 2000s, the Central Artery project in Boston. Bell was Chairman of the JV Board of Control, which provided policy direction, client interaction and technical overview on the $14 billion project. He chaired the JV Board for the billion-dollar plus extensions for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system. Bell worked closely with the BART staff in setting up this design-build demonstration project. His strong personal involvement on other projects is a history of transportation in the U. S. and abroad- the new Denver Airport, the Las Vegas airport expansion, the Baltimore and Sacramento light rail lines, the difficult Athens Metro subway. His inspiring track record was epitomized by partnering, his commonsense approach to problem resolution, and a consistent focus on cost and schedule. He was a mega project manager at the highest level, a distinction worthy of the special recognition of election to the NAC.
Walt graduated with a BSCE from Polytechnic University of Brooklyn in 1955 and with a MSCE in 1960 from Purdue. He was named as a Distinguished Engineering Alumni of Purdue Engineering in 1996.
In guest lecturing to undergraduates in a class in the early 1990s, Walt shared the following story, “at the end of the talk, one of the students asked, "What should we get a graduate degree in?" I answered that the real question is where do you want to be? They all said they wanted to be where I was. So, I told them to get a degree in psychiatry or law, because in this business you get so involved in the contractual aspects and in managing people. I found the Army to be a great training ground for psychology because you interface with so many people so often. I learned along the way, with a lot of scars and knocks.”
Walt’s career was stellar as he retired as a Senior Vice President for Bechtel Corp in the early 2000s. From 1998 to 2003, he served as Managing Director, Union Railways North, building of the UK link of the Channel Tunnel to link Paris and Glasgow by high speed rail. In October 1997, he served as head of the Bechtel management team to reorganize Korean High-Speed rail including Presidential Commission Report which restructured the total program. From 1993 to 1997 Sr. VP, Bechtel Corp., responsible for $1.5 billion of Bechtel Civil operations in North and South America. From 1990 to 1992 he progressed from Deputy of the Surface Transportation business line with responsibilities for high-speed rail, rapid transit, tunnels, and magnetic levitation to manager of all surface transportation projects, and then to Sr. VP. From 1989 to 1990 he was President/CEO of Morrison International, part of Morrison Knudsen, with responsibility for corporate development, strategic alliances, structuring of financing and general management of operations. From 1981 to 1989 he moved from North America VP to President of MK Engineers, Inc. He had specific project responsibilities for design of the Anchorage-Fairbanks 345 KV Intertie in Alaska, management of the West Coast Pumping System in Utah, the I-90 highway project in Seattle, the New Denver Airport and the first segment of the Baltimore Light Rail Line.
From 1955 to 1981 retiring as a Colonel, Walt served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with increasing positions of responsibility from troop unit to major water resource and infrastructure development projects. NAC member, LTG Vald Heiberg, former USACE Chief of Engineers, considered Walt as one of best Colonels who served under him during his career. Of special note was his detached assignment to the TVA Guntersville Lock Construction project from 1963 to 1966. Also, from 1978 to 1981 he was responsible for the design/construction of 4 major dams, including Harry Truman with a Hydro Power Plant and Clintion a 3000 ft. earth fill dam, and also maintenance of the Missouri River, for 500 miles from Rulo NE to St. Louis, MO, and as Director U.S. Army Engineering Studies center, 1976-1978.
Throughout his career, Walt was in the middle of the action, making sense out of chaos and quietly leading teams to successful and innovative conclusions in the best interests of the nation, society, and his employer.
― Edd Gibson
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