Mark H. Houck
Curriculum Vitae

Position

Professor
Department of Civil, Environmental & Infrastructure Engineering
Volgenau School of Engineering
Nguyen Engineering Building, room 1408
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MS 6C1
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4422
703.993.1737  voice
703.993.1521  fax
mhouck@gmu.edu

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Environmental Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 1976.

Bachelor of Engineering Science (BES), with concentrations in Environmental Engineering and Operations Research, The Johns Hopkins University, 1972.

Licenses and Certifications

Professional Engineer (PE), Indiana (1979 – present),  Maryland (1988 – present)

Professional Hydrologist (PH), American Institute of Hydrology (2005 – present)

Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE), American Academy of Environmental Engineers (2006 – present)

 Professional Experience

Professor, Civil, Environmental & Infrastructure Engineering Department, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University.  January 1992 to present. 

Visiting Professor, School of the Built Environment, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.  January to August 2003.

Affiliate Faculty, Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, George Mason University.  1996 to present.

Affiliate Faculty, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University.  1996 to present.

Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University.  Professor:  August 1987 to December 1991.  Associate Professor:  August 1982 to July 1987.  Assistant Professor:  December 1977 to July 1982.

Doctor of the University, The Johns Hopkins University.  Visiting faculty member in the G.W.C. Whiting School of Engineering.  October 1989 to September 1990.

Vice President, Water Resources Management, Inc., Columbia, Maryland.  September 1988 to September 1989.

President, Omtek Engineering, Inc., West Lafayette, Indiana.  July 1983 to December 1991.

Acting County Drainage Engineer, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.  May 1987 to August 1988.

Research Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. December 1975 to December 1977.

Awards Honors Listings

Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering Honorary Society), 1985

Omega Rho (International Operations Research Honorary Society), 1982

Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Honorary Society), 1976

Huber Research Prize, American Society of Civil Engineers, 1988.

Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers, 1998

Diplomate, American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, 2005

Outstanding Teacher Award, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, 2005

Listed in various biographical references including:  Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, and Who's Who in the World

Teaching

Professor Houck is actively involved in classroom and laboratory teaching. He has taught courses on statistics and probability; engineering economics; systems analysis and engineering; environmental engineering; mathematical modeling (optimization and simulation) of complex engineering systems; operations research; urban systems engineering; and all aspects of water management and engineering, including hydrology, hydraulics, and water resources. Courses taught at George Mason include:
 

CEIE 100

 

Environmental Engineering Around the World

CEIE 230

 

Hydraulics

CEIE 301

 

Engineering and Economic Models in Civil Engineering

CEIE 340

 

Water Resources Engineering

CEIE 440

 

Water Supply and Distribution

CEIE 601

 

Infrastructure Modeling

CEIE 605

 

Infrastructure Systems Analysis

CEIE 641

Water Resources Engineering I:  principles and practice

CEIE 632

 

Groundwater Systems Modeling

CEIE 683

 

Water and Wastewater Security

CEIE 742

Water Resources Engineering II: water resources systems

CEIE 892

 

Special Topics in Environmental and Water Resource Systems Engineering

Research

Dr. Houck conducts an active research effort focusing on the use of systems analysis and engineering in support of public sector decision making, with special emphasis on environmental and water resources problems. He has supervised twelve students who have completed their Ph.D. degrees and a number of other Masters students. Research sponsors have included a wide range of federal, state, and local governmental agencies; and private organizations.  Examples include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station for development of expert systems to manage potentially hazardous dredged materials; U.S. Department of the Interior for drought management, expert systems for infrastructure rehabilitation, and design of optimal drainage control networks; the National Science Foundation for development of optimal reservoir system operating rules; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for identification of human response in the United States to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Justice for assessment of risk management in the water sector of the National Capital Region, and development of methods to enhance water security.  Dr. Houck has published extensively in the scientific and engineering literature on environmental and water resources planning, management, and engineering.