Professional and Career Topics

I was reading an ASCE article today and noticed that over half the line was filled with affiliations, credentials, and certifications for at least one individual. What is the purpose of this practice? It feels over the top to me, and may be counterproductive to the desired end in mind. Recognition is important, but at some point, it can be seen as self-serving. 

You make a good point, Mitch. I am, myself, guilty of over-credentialing. There are several aspects that mitigate the situation. Please forgive me for now over-explaining. Some readers might appreciate the background.

We can discuss it, but most of us will agree that the P.E. credential is vitally important to the profession. Listing it as a credential serves to emphasize its importance, so I usually do.

Our profession has debated the need for studies beyond the Bachelor's degree. IMO, some graduate study should be a priority.  Terminal degrees (Ph.D., D.ENG) can be valuable but shouldn't be necessary for engineering teaching, research, or litigation but they often are. I obtained the PhD specifically because of my desire to teach at the university level. I probably list it more often than necessary because it seems to matter to my clients.

ASCE and other organizations, notably in medicine, established specialty (Board) certification to identify specialists in various disciplines. Some are rather broad, like Water Resources Engineering (BC.WRE), others are rather narrow, like Navigation Engineering (BC.NE). They require advanced knowledge, years of practice beyond the P.E., examination by the designated Board plus more rigorous continuing education than the P.E. Some consulting contracts now specify a particular Board certification qualification and attorneys like them because they remove the need for a lot of back-and-forth over a testifying expert's qualifications. Before I became Board certified, every deposition and testimony began with a lengthy Q&A over my education and experience. I once had to describe every estuary I had ever worked on. It took a while. Now the lawyers look at my Board Certification and say, "Okay, he's qualified." My litigation work typical requires either Coastal Engineering or Navigation Engineering certification, so I obtained both. I list those on stuff that lawyers are likely to see, because that may generate work.

Of course, despite my disclaimers of selective use, my signature block below includes everything, including ASCE membership grade. That seems excessive unless some client decides to hire me on the basis of all those initials. A friend once said the main benefit of his Ph.D. was that when he said something stupid, people assumed it was just too profound for them to understand. I haven't noticed that working for me.

Bill Mc

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William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
ENGINEER
Columbus MS

Original Message:
Sent: 07-09-2025 09:12 PM
From: Mitchell Winkler
Subject: Purpose of affiliations, credentials and certifications with someone's name?

I was reading an ASCE article today and noticed that over half the line was filled with affiliations, credentials, and certifications for at least one individual. What is the purpose of this practice? It feels over the top to me, and may be counterproductive to the desired end in mind. Recognition is important, but at some point, it can be seen as self-serving. 

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

You make an excellent point regarding the importance of these credentials in establishing credibility in a court of law. However, when it comes to engineers talking to engineers, does it matter?  A risk is creating a power dynamic where one should not exist. When civil engineers are quoted in broader communications, I think the public would be better served by stating how someone was qualified to opine on a topic, rather than listing an alphabet soup of letters.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX

Original Message:
Sent: 07-10-2025 11:58 AM
From: William McAnally
Subject: Purpose of affiliations, credentials and certifications with someone's name?

You make a good point, Mitch. I am, myself, guilty of over-credentialing. There are several aspects that mitigate the situation. Please forgive me for now over-explaining. Some readers might appreciate the background.

We can discuss it, but most of us will agree that the P.E. credential is vitally important to the profession. Listing it as a credential serves to emphasize its importance, so I usually do.

Our profession has debated the need for studies beyond the Bachelor's degree. IMO, some graduate study should be a priority.  Terminal degrees (Ph.D., D.ENG) can be valuable but shouldn't be necessary for engineering teaching, research, or litigation but they often are. I obtained the PhD specifically because of my desire to teach at the university level. I probably list it more often than necessary because it seems to matter to my clients.

ASCE and other organizations, notably in medicine, established specialty (Board) certification to identify specialists in various disciplines. Some are rather broad, like Water Resources Engineering (BC.WRE), others are rather narrow, like Navigation Engineering (BC.NE). They require advanced knowledge, years of practice beyond the P.E., examination by the designated Board plus more rigorous continuing education than the P.E. Some consulting contracts now specify a particular Board certification qualification and attorneys like them because they remove the need for a lot of back-and-forth over a testifying expert's qualifications. Before I became Board certified, every deposition and testimony began with a lengthy Q&A over my education and experience. I once had to describe every estuary I had ever worked on. It took a while. Now the lawyers look at my Board Certification and say, "Okay, he's qualified." My litigation work typical requires either Coastal Engineering or Navigation Engineering certification, so I obtained both. I list those on stuff that lawyers are likely to see, because that may generate work.

Of course, despite my disclaimers of selective use, my signature block below includes everything, including ASCE membership grade. That seems excessive unless some client decides to hire me on the basis of all those initials. A friend once said the main benefit of his Ph.D. was that when he said something stupid, people assumed it was just too profound for them to understand. I haven't noticed that working for me.

Bill Mc

------------------------------
William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
ENGINEER
Columbus MS

Original Message:
Sent: 07-09-2025 09:12 PM
From: Mitchell Winkler
Subject: Purpose of affiliations, credentials and certifications with someone's name?

I was reading an ASCE article today and noticed that over half the line was filled with affiliations, credentials, and certifications for at least one individual. What is the purpose of this practice? It feels over the top to me, and may be counterproductive to the desired end in mind. Recognition is important, but at some point, it can be seen as self-serving. 

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------

You make an excellent point regarding the importance of these credentials in establishing credibility in a court of law. However, when it comes to engineers talking to engineers, does it matter?  A risk is creating a power dynamic where one should not exist. When civil engineers are quoted in broader communications, I think the public would be better served by stating how someone was qualified to opine on a topic, rather than listing an alphabet soup of letters.

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX

Original Message:
Sent: 07-10-2025 11:58 AM
From: William McAnally
Subject: Purpose of affiliations, credentials and certifications with someone's name?

You make a good point, Mitch. I am, myself, guilty of over-credentialing. There are several aspects that mitigate the situation. Please forgive me for now over-explaining. Some readers might appreciate the background.

We can discuss it, but most of us will agree that the P.E. credential is vitally important to the profession. Listing it as a credential serves to emphasize its importance, so I usually do.

Our profession has debated the need for studies beyond the Bachelor's degree. IMO, some graduate study should be a priority.  Terminal degrees (Ph.D., D.ENG) can be valuable but shouldn't be necessary for engineering teaching, research, or litigation but they often are. I obtained the PhD specifically because of my desire to teach at the university level. I probably list it more often than necessary because it seems to matter to my clients.

ASCE and other organizations, notably in medicine, established specialty (Board) certification to identify specialists in various disciplines. Some are rather broad, like Water Resources Engineering (BC.WRE), others are rather narrow, like Navigation Engineering (BC.NE). They require advanced knowledge, years of practice beyond the P.E., examination by the designated Board plus more rigorous continuing education than the P.E. Some consulting contracts now specify a particular Board certification qualification and attorneys like them because they remove the need for a lot of back-and-forth over a testifying expert's qualifications. Before I became Board certified, every deposition and testimony began with a lengthy Q&A over my education and experience. I once had to describe every estuary I had ever worked on. It took a while. Now the lawyers look at my Board Certification and say, "Okay, he's qualified." My litigation work typical requires either Coastal Engineering or Navigation Engineering certification, so I obtained both. I list those on stuff that lawyers are likely to see, because that may generate work.

Of course, despite my disclaimers of selective use, my signature block below includes everything, including ASCE membership grade. That seems excessive unless some client decides to hire me on the basis of all those initials. A friend once said the main benefit of his Ph.D. was that when he said something stupid, people assumed it was just too profound for them to understand. I haven't noticed that working for me.

Bill Mc

------------------------------
William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
ENGINEER
Columbus MS

Original Message:
Sent: 07-09-2025 09:12 PM
From: Mitchell Winkler
Subject: Purpose of affiliations, credentials and certifications with someone's name?

I was reading an ASCE article today and noticed that over half the line was filled with affiliations, credentials, and certifications for at least one individual. What is the purpose of this practice? It feels over the top to me, and may be counterproductive to the desired end in mind. Recognition is important, but at some point, it can be seen as self-serving. 

------------------------------
Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
Houston, TX
------------------------------