HDR’s Thomas French Named 2022 New Hampshire Engineer of the Year

The New Hampshire Engineering Societies has named HDR’s Thomas French, P.E. as the 2022 New Hampshire Engineer of the Year. The award recognizes French as an engineer who has made outstanding contributions to the engineering professions, the public welfare and humankind. The honor and its companion Young Engineer of the Year award are the highest given to engineers in New Hampshire.

French, who also won the Young Engineer of the Year award in 2005, is a senior project manager for HDR, leading roadway, bridge, environmental and maritime engineering in New England. He is a civil and structural engineer with nearly 29 years of experience in the inspection, analysis, design, project management and construction administration of bridges, highways and other civil and building projects. During his career, French has been the lead design engineer on more than 200 bridge and roadway projects across New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. Most recently, he served as design-build design manager for the twin bridges that take Interstate 91 across the Williams River near Rockingham, Vermont, a project that has won numerous national awards.

French is a noted author of several bridge publications, including work on the historic preservation of stone arch and steel bridges in Vermont and New Hampshire. His work has received the Historic Landmark Preservation Award for the South Main Street Stone Arch Bridge Rehabilitation in Manchester, New Hampshire. With deep ties to New Hampshire, French has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire.

Outside of work, French has volunteered for more than 27 years with the Henniker Rescue Squad, which provides emergency medical services to more than 7,000 residents across 81 square miles. He is a nationally registered advanced EMT and firefighter. He has served his department as chief for 16 years and deputy chief for five years.

“I’m humbled to receive this honor from my peers and colleagues,” French said. “I hope to continue to live up to the highest ideals of our profession as together we maintain and improve the infrastructure that our communities rely on.”

French will receive the award at the societies’ 71st Annual Engineers Week Awards Banquet in Concord on Feb. 22.