Puget Sound Engineering Council names Richard Sage Government Engineer of the Year

Longtime Sound Transit engineer plays key role in agency megaprojects

The Puget Sound Engineering Council on Saturday awarded Sound Transit engineer Richard (Dick) Sage its highest award for engineers working in government agencies, Government Engineer of the Year.  

Sage is the Director of Construction Management for Sound Transit, overseeing work on light rail, commuter rail and regional express bus capital construction programs. The organization announced the award at its annual banquet to celebrate engineering accomplishments.  

The Council bestows the award annually on engineers who have "significantly applied engineering principles in local, state, or federal projects; have improved the application of technology and engineering for the public's benefit; and have improved the effectiveness of the engineering profession."  

Sage has 47 years of experience in construction, including 14 years with Sound Transit. During his time with Sound Transit he has played roles in managing major light rail construction projects. Previously he worked 26 years with contractors in the heavy civil/ highway construction industry on tunnels, heavy civil structures, highways and bridges. He also worked for four years in water/sewer design and property/construction surveys; and for three years as an officer in the United States Army, Engineering Branch.  

Sage is a graduate of Michigan State University in Civil Engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer and Certified Construction Manager. He is a Committee Member of two Transportation Research Board Committees: Tunnel and Underground Structures and Construction Management. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (life member), the Construction Management Association of America, the Underground Construction Association and the Disputes Resolution Board Foundation.

In 2013 Sage received the Distinguished Owner Award from the Construction Management Association of America (Pacific Northwest Chapter).