Title: Distinguished Professor
Company: University of California, San Diego
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Gilbert Arthur Hegemier, PhD, distinguished professor at University of California, San Diego, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academia.
With nearly six decades of experience, Dr. Hegemier has established a distinguished career in academia, specializing in higher education and structural engineering. Since 1966, he has held an impressive tenure at the University of California, where he currently serves as a distinguished professor and professor emeritus. In this role, he teaches courses in engineering, applied mechanics, applied physics, and applied mathematics, while also overseeing research programs in earthquake engineering, blast mitigation, and aerospace. Notably, he initiated the creation of the Powell Laboratories, a large-scale structural engineering laboratory system. Laying a solid educational foundation, he earned a PhD in physics of condensed matter, solid mechanics and structures, and mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1964. He is an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Association of Civil Engineers. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including the UCSC Chancellor’s Associate’s Shiley Achievement Award in 1994, the Charles Pankoff Award for Innovation in 1996, and the Revelle Medal in 2022.
Reflecting on his path, Dr. Hegemier began his career as an aerospace engineer at Caltech, however, a significant earthquake in 1971 sparked his interest in earthquake engineering. Initially inexperienced in the field, he secured a grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct research after observing the earthquake’s aftermath in Managua, Nicaragua, in 1972. This experience led to a shift in his career focus, inspiring him to establish a new branch of work in earthquake engineering. In the following years, he identified the need for larger specimens for laboratory testing and spearheaded the development of the outdoor shake table at UC San Diego. This innovative table was capable of simulating the effects of earthquakes on structures as large as several 10-story buildings. His contributions also include the development of advanced retrofitting techniques using fiber-reinforced composites to enhance structural safety, with one of his most notable achievements being retrofitting the U.S. embassy in Israel to protect against blast threats. His innovative method involves applying a thin layer of composite material to structural columns, reinforcing them against potential damage from both earthquakes and blasts.
Dr. Hegemier attributes his success to the rigorous education he received at Caltech, where he was continually challenged to push the boundaries of his knowledge and excel in his work. He also credits his time at UC San Diego with offering a collaborative and horizontal structure that fostered the development of new ideas, allowing him the freedom to explore and pursue his own innovative projects. Looking to the future, he is focused on contributing to the field of quantum engineering. He sees quantum computing as a transformative technology that has the potential to revolutionize many industries, such as artificial intelligence, such as security, code-breaking, and technological advancements. He is actively working to establish a department dedicated to quantum engineering, understanding that this technology will play an increasingly crucial role in the future. In advising aspiring professionals, he emphasizes the importance of accepting help along the way. He believes that having the right support at the right time can make all the difference in one’s career journey.
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