Thomas A. Schwartz, P.E., president/senior principal and head of the Building Technology Group at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc. (SGH), has been elected to the ASTM International Board of Directors for a term beginning in 2006.

Schwartz has been honored with a 1994 ASTM International Award of Merit and title of fellow for his contributions to ASTM standards activities. An ASTM International member since 1982, he serves on Committees E06 on Performance of Buildings, C14 on Glass and Glass Products, and E30 on Forensic Sciences. He also leads E06.55 on Exterior Building Wall Systems as its chair and has served as chair of a number of 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 SGH, a design and consulting engineering firm 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 in 1977 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

Schwartz has held a number of positions at SGH, from engineer to senior staff engineer, and associate to senior principal, before assuming his current role. A registered professional engineer in nine states and the District of Columbia, he has focused on building envelope systems, including curtain walls, glazing, roofing, waterproofing, and masonry. He has investigated and evaluated glass and window systems, wall systems, and roofing and has lectured and written extensively about building envelope 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 also received the 1987 Engineering-News Record Award for Contribution to Engineering.

In addition to his ASTM International 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.

Release #7315