Former LSU CEE Chair, LTRC Founder Passes Away at 95

Former chairman of the LSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Ara Arman passed away on January 31 at the age of 95. Aman began his career at LSU in 1963 as an assistant professor before becoming chair in 1976. He also served as the assistant director of the Division of Engineering Research from 1965 to 1976.

Arman was a professional civil engineer registered in the state of Louisiana with more than 40 years of experience in the field of environmental, civil, geotechnical, and geosynthetics engineering.

From 1980 to 1987, Arman served as associate dean for Instruction and Undergraduate Studies and participated in the legislative establishment of the Louisiana Transportation Research Center (LTRC), jointly sponsored by LSU and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Arman served as the founder and director of LTRC until 1989 when he retired from LSU to join Woodward-Clyde Consultants as senior consultant and vice president, and later as vice president and principal until 1998.

Arman’s work has been featured in more than 70 publications around the world in the field of geotechnical engineering, chemical stabilization of soils, use of geosynthetics as applied to transportation, ports, airports, industrial sites and other facilities.

He was a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and was the 2001 recipient of the prestigious A.E. Wilder, Jr. Award for Outstanding Service of the American Consulting Engineers Council.

Ara, a member of the inaugural class of the LSU CEE Hall of Distinction and CEE External Advisory Board, made a tremendous impact on the LSU CEE department during and after his career, as well as on the civil engineering profession.  

To view his obituary, visit https://obituaries.theadvocate.com/obituary/ara-arman-1093555032