RICHARDSON, TX Halff Associates, Inc. (Halff) announces Ryan T. Smith, PE, CMQ/OE, joins Halff as Director of Construction Services. Smith brings nearly 20 years of experience in the transportation and public works industries and project management to the firm. He will establish the strategic direction and provide leadership of Halff's construction engineering and inspection (CE&I) services in Texas.

Smith comes from a Texas-based A/E firm, where he served as senior project manager on CE&I and design-build programs. He managed work on TxDOT's Midtown Express design-build project in Irving, Texas, the US 287 reliever route in Ennis and Kosciuszko Bridge in New York City.  

He was also the branch manager for a global A/E firm, where he managed the local office and projects such as the LBJ Express design-build project in Dallas, the Chisholm Trail Parkway in Fort Worth and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge replacement in California.

Chief Strategy Officer Russell Zapalac said, "Ryan has built a strong reputation in the Texas construction industry for successfully delivering noteworthy infrastructure projects. His experience, leadership and relationships with owners and contractors will facilitate the growth of our Construction Services practice in Texas." 

Prior to his work as an engineering consultant, Smith served as a ranger-qualified combat engineer in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division. 

He earned his Master of Science in construction engineering and project management from the University of Texas at Austin and his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Louisiana Tech University. He is a Professional Engineer in Texas and California and an ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence. Smith is a member of the Texas Exes and served on the organization's board of directors for the Dallas chapter, and he is actively involved in the American Council of Engineering Companies.