Inducted
2005
Degrees
Samuel Bonasso is a professional civil engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, public servant, motivational speaker, writer and Morgantown and West Virginia civic leader and businessman.
After completing his master's degree in civil engineering at WVU, Bonasso founded Ski Lift International in 1965, and, in 1969, founded Alpha Associates, Inc., a West Virginia regional architectural/engineering consulting firm in highway and heavy construction, general and public works construction and residential development.
From 1998-2000, he served as West Virginia's sixth Secretary of Transportation under Gov. Cecil Underwood, moving Appalachian Corridor H toward completion.
Since November 2002, Bonasso has served as deputy administrator in the United States Department of Transportation, a senior executive service appointment in the Bush Administration. In this role he has executive responsibility for the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, the Office of Pipeline Safety, the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, the Transportation Safety Institute and the Office of Innovation and Research.
His public service has included numerous boards and commissions including the West Virginia United Health Care System, Rotary, West Virginia Engineers Registration Board, Commission for Vocational and Technical Education, Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce Vision Project and the West Virginia Task Force for Children Youth and Families.
He is also part owner of Literati Information Technology, LLC, a business-to-business information technology consulting firm.
Bonasso has published numerous writings and holds four United States Patents on the Tension Arch© structural system, applicable to bridges, tunnels and buildings. In 2004, he was recognized by the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival as the West Virginia Italian American Man of the Year.
He resides in Morgantown and Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Nancy L. Mowrey.