Dec 21, 2011

Thomas A. Schwartz, P.E., senior principal, president and head of the building technology group at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH), has been elected vice chairman of the ASTM International board of directors for 2011-2012.

A member of ASTM International since Schwartz since 1982, Schwartz served on the ASTM board of directors from 2006 to 2008 and in 2010.  He currently works on Committees E06 on Performance of Buildings as well as C14 on Glass and Glass Products and E58 on Forensic Engineering. He is chairman of Subcommittee E06.55 on Exterior Building Wall Systems and has chaired several other E06 groups.

Following his graduation from Tufts University in Medford, Mass., in 1973, with a B.S. in civil engineering, Schwartz started work as an engineer at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), a design and consulting engineering firm with five offices in the United States that focuses on design, performance evaluation and repair of buildings, special structures and infrastructure. While in his early years with the firm, he earned his M.S. in material engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

Schwartz held a number of positions at SGH, from engineer to senior staff engineer, and associate to principal, before assuming his current role. A registered professional engineer in 20 states and the District of Columbia, he focuses on building envelope systems, including curtain walls, glazing, roofing, waterproofing and masonry. He investigates and evaluates all types of glass and window systems, wall systems and roofing, and lectures and writes extensively about building enclosure technology.

In recognition of his professional capability and work, Schwartz received membership in the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi and was elected to membership in the scientific research society, Sigma Xi.  Schwartz received the 2006 ASTM International Walter C. Voss Award in honor of his leadership and more than 30 years of service to the building technology industry. He also earned the 1987 Engineering-News Record Award for Contribution to Engineering. Other accolades include the 1994 ASTM International Award of Merit and title of fellow for his involvement in ASTM standards activities and a Service Award from the ASTM board of directors in 2008.

In addition to his ASTM work, Schwartz is a construction industry arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers. He was also a technical editor for Glass Digest for more than a decade.

ASTM PR Contact: Erin Brennan, Phone: 610-832-9602; ebrennan@astm.org

Release #9043