Samuel G. Bonasso
Encyclopedia
Samuel George Bonasso is a career civil engineer, entrepreneur and inventor, who also worked as a public servant in the transportation sector at the state and federal levels and contributing innovations in his industry. Bonasso has founded three businesses and is the holder of five U.S. patents, Bonasso was West Virginia Secretary of Transportation from 1998 to 2000 in the Governor Cecil H. Underwood
administration. He then served as deputy administrator (Nov. 2002 - March 2003), then acting administrator (March 2003 – March 2005), of the Research and Special Programs Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation under Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, during the presidency of George W. Bush
.
Bonasso obtained his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Miami
in 1962 and earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from West Virginia University
in 1964.
in Alexandria, Va., serving as its president and chief engineer until 1969. He became a ski lift engineer and builder and an engineering specialist in the operation of large diameter cable driven equipment. He built on his experience into the 1990s and contributed as committee member and secretary to the early 1980s revision of the American National Standards Institute
B77.1 American National Standard for Passenger Ropeways.
In 1969, Bonasso founded Alpha Associates in Morgantown, W.Va., which became a regional architectural and engineering design firm. He served as president and managing principal there until 1998. The firm specialized in architecture in K-12 and higher education and health care facilities. Engineering included highways, bridges, ski lifts and aerial tramways, subdivisions, real estate development and utilities. Between 1984 and 1987 Bonasso was awarded four U.S. patents for the Tension Arch structural systems used in bridges, buildings and other structures.
Bonasso stayed at Alpha Associates until selected by West Virginia Gov. Underwood in 1998 to serve as secretary of the Department of Transportation
, a position he held until 2000. During his tenure he reorganized the Department of Transportation’s State Rail Authority, guided the site selection of the Southern West Virginia Regional Airport and provided senior executive guidance to the final decisions on completing Appalachian Development Highway System Corridor H
.
As deputy administrator and acting administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2002 to 2005, Bonasso oversaw the reorganization of the administration into two separate agencies. The research, education, and associated policy functions became the Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(RITA), while regulatory functions fell under the new Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA). Bonasso represented the DOT on the California Fuel Cell Partnership
, aimed at promoting the use of hydrogen vehicles in California, and contributed to the initial development of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. He ended his work at USDOT in March, 2005 as the Deputy Administrator of RITA.
Back in the private sector, Bonasso in 2005 established the Morgantown-based Reinforced Aggregates Co., developer of Mechanical Concrete® and Mechanical Cement® construction material technology. Mechanical Concrete® is a confined-aggregate concrete created by using a cylindrical segment to mechanically confine and integrate crushed stone or other natural or recycled aggregate materials into a cellular load-supporting unit. A common, available form of Mechanical Concrete® is made by combining crushed limestone or similar natural or recycled aggregate with a used vehicle tire with both sidewalls removed. Bonasso received a U.S. patent in 2008 for Mechanical Concrete® and has a patent pending in Canada. The technology was approved in October 2008 by the Division of Highways of the West Virginia Department of Transportation for use in the construction of West Virginia highways.
Throughout his career, Bonasso has served at various times as expert witness, organizational development and innovation consultant, accident investigator, arbitrator and standards developer. He is actively involved in organizational consulting in the information technology field.
Cecil H. Underwood
Cecil Harland Underwood was an American Republican Party politician from West Virginia, known for the length of his career. He was the 25th and 32nd Governor of West Virginia from 1957 until 1961 and from 1997 until 2001. He ran for reelection in 2000 but was defeated by Bob Wise...
administration. He then served as deputy administrator (Nov. 2002 - March 2003), then acting administrator (March 2003 – March 2005), of the Research and Special Programs Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation under Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, during the presidency of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Early life
Bonasso was born in Wyatt, W.Va. to Pietro G. Bonasso (1895 Italy – 1947 W.Va.) and Chiara Bonasso, née Morasco (1903 Italy – 1971 W.Va.).Bonasso obtained his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in 1962 and earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in 1964.
Professional career
After finishing graduate school, Bonasso, with a group of European investors and manufacturers, co-founded Ski Lift InternationalSki Lift International
Ski Lift International was an aerial lift manufacturer based out of Incline Village, Nevada. SLI was established by co-founders Samuel G. Bonasso and Joseph Sugarman, with Bonasso as its first president. The company built 46 lifts, mainly double chairlifts, from 1965 until 1973. SLI had a...
in Alexandria, Va., serving as its president and chief engineer until 1969. He became a ski lift engineer and builder and an engineering specialist in the operation of large diameter cable driven equipment. He built on his experience into the 1990s and contributed as committee member and secretary to the early 1980s revision of the American National Standards Institute
American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
B77.1 American National Standard for Passenger Ropeways.
In 1969, Bonasso founded Alpha Associates in Morgantown, W.Va., which became a regional architectural and engineering design firm. He served as president and managing principal there until 1998. The firm specialized in architecture in K-12 and higher education and health care facilities. Engineering included highways, bridges, ski lifts and aerial tramways, subdivisions, real estate development and utilities. Between 1984 and 1987 Bonasso was awarded four U.S. patents for the Tension Arch structural systems used in bridges, buildings and other structures.
Bonasso stayed at Alpha Associates until selected by West Virginia Gov. Underwood in 1998 to serve as secretary of the Department of Transportation
West Virginia Department of Transportation
The West Virginia Department of Transportation is the state agency responsible for transportation in West Virginia. The Department of Transportation serves an umbrella organization for seven subsidiary agencies which are directly responsible for different areas of the state's...
, a position he held until 2000. During his tenure he reorganized the Department of Transportation’s State Rail Authority, guided the site selection of the Southern West Virginia Regional Airport and provided senior executive guidance to the final decisions on completing Appalachian Development Highway System Corridor H
U.S. Route 48
U.S. Route 48 , or Corridor H, is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System. It is an east–west United States highway that runs from northern Virginia to central West Virginia.- West Virginia :...
.
As deputy administrator and acting administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2002 to 2005, Bonasso oversaw the reorganization of the administration into two separate agencies. The research, education, and associated policy functions became the Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration is a unit of the United States Department of Transportation . It was created in 2005 to advance transportation science, technology, and analysis, and to improve the coordination of transportation research within the Department and throughout...
(RITA), while regulatory functions fell under the new Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration was created under the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act of 2004. United States president George W. Bush signed the legislation into law on November 30, 2004...
(PHMSA). Bonasso represented the DOT on the California Fuel Cell Partnership
California Fuel Cell Partnership
The California Fuel Cell Partnership is a public-private partnership to promote hydrogen vehicles in California. It is notable as one of the first initiatives for that purpose undertaken in the United States....
, aimed at promoting the use of hydrogen vehicles in California, and contributed to the initial development of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. He ended his work at USDOT in March, 2005 as the Deputy Administrator of RITA.
Back in the private sector, Bonasso in 2005 established the Morgantown-based Reinforced Aggregates Co., developer of Mechanical Concrete® and Mechanical Cement® construction material technology. Mechanical Concrete® is a confined-aggregate concrete created by using a cylindrical segment to mechanically confine and integrate crushed stone or other natural or recycled aggregate materials into a cellular load-supporting unit. A common, available form of Mechanical Concrete® is made by combining crushed limestone or similar natural or recycled aggregate with a used vehicle tire with both sidewalls removed. Bonasso received a U.S. patent in 2008 for Mechanical Concrete® and has a patent pending in Canada. The technology was approved in October 2008 by the Division of Highways of the West Virginia Department of Transportation for use in the construction of West Virginia highways.
Throughout his career, Bonasso has served at various times as expert witness, organizational development and innovation consultant, accident investigator, arbitrator and standards developer. He is actively involved in organizational consulting in the information technology field.
Selected publications
- Bonasso, Samuel G. (October 2007). "Inquiry, Discovery, Invention, and Innovation — The Personal Experience of Technology Generation and Transfer in Engineering and Scientific Research." Leadership and Management in Engineering 7: 141.
- Bonasso, Samuel G. (April 2002). "Twenty-First-Century Engineering Projects — More than Bricks, Mortar, and Money." Leadership and Management in Engineering 2: 14.
- Bonasso, Samuel G. (January 2001). "Engineering, Leadership, and Integral Philosophy." Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice 127: 17.
- Marocchi, Dante. Aerial Tramways and Ski Lifts: Theory and Planning. Translated by Samuel Bonasso. Morgantown: Alpha Associates, 1983.
- Bonasso, Sam. (June 1982). "Can We Be More Creative?" National essay contest winner, Civil Engineering.