Dr. Foster has faculty appointments as a Professor on the Graduate Faculty at the University of Nebraska College of Engineering and the Aviation Institute. Dr. Foster draws upon over twenty years of experience as a senior corporate executive in the construction, logistics, and computer services industries. He has served as CEO of two design/construction firms. Currently he is the Program Chair for Construction Engineering.
Courses he has taught include Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Structural Materials and Design, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Introduction to Construction, Construction Business Methods, Construction Economy, Construction Methods and Equipment, Introductory and Advanced CAD, and Computational Analysis. At the Aviation Institute he has taught Introduction to Aviation and Aerodynamics.
His research interests cover structural mechanics and information systems in construction, aerospace, and biosystems. Major projects and publications deal with high technology structures, aircraft performance, cold regions engineering, random vibrations, finite element analysis, business and technological systems analysis and optimization, computer assisted design, building information modeling, component identification and monitoring, and learning systems.
Early in his career, Dr. Foster received a Fulbright-Hays visiting professorship in earthquake engineering. He has since served as Chair of the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects and National Vice President for Practice Divisions of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Constructors.
Dr. Foster received a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, with prior degrees in Nuclear and Civil Engineering from MIT. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in ten states with national and international practice certification. He is also certified by the Structural Engineering Certification Board and the American Institute of Constructors. He is a FAA Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor.
