Inducted
2008
Degrees
James E. Laier is the chief executive officer of Southern Earth Sciences, Inc., and is a registered Professional Engineer in 11 states.
Southern Earth Sciences, Inc., was honored by being inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in February 2008. SESI was the only corporation inducted this year along with seven individuals.
Laier received his B.S. in civil engineering from The Citadel in 1964, his M.S. in civil/geotechnical engineering from West Virginia University in 1965, and his Ph.D. in civil/geotechnical engineering from the University of Florida in 1973.
In 1976, Laier founded Southern Earth Sciences, Inc., a geotechnical, environmental and construction materials testing company, in Mobile, Alabama.
He began his career in geotechnical engineering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Laier is a Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the ABET accreditation team, a member of Tau Beta Pi and is active in a number of professional organizations, including ACIL, ACEC and NSPE.
He is also an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of South Alabama.
Some of his many include many publications, two U.S. Letters Patents, many individual and company awards and merits and several board appointments.
Laier has also co-edited a book, along with David K. Crapps and Mohamed H.Hussein, sponsored by The Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, "From Research to Practice In Geotechnical Engineering." The book honors Professor John H. Scmertmann, Ph.D., P.E., for his distinguished career as a teacher, a research engineer and a practitioner. The book is Geotechnical Special Publication No. 180.