Howard “Mac” Gray
Howard “Mac” Gray, retired in May of 2019hgray@maine.edu
B.S. Civil Engineering/University of Maine 1973
M.S. Civil Engineering (Structural Emphasis)/University of Maine 1975
Mac Gray earned both his Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Maine. After graduation in 1975, he joined Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, a construction company that specializes in heavy metal plate construction such as oil storage tanks, offshore drilling platforms and nuclear containment vessels. Mac spent one year as a field engineer on several construction projects in the eastern United States, two months in a fabrication shop, and six months in the regional engineering offices as a structural designer and draftsman.
After completing the training program, Mac went to work at the Corporate Headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois as a design engineer in the Special Structures Group and later, in the Stress Analysis Group. In this department, he performed both static and dynamic analysis of pressure vessels and components.
Although the work was challenging and interesting at CBI, the state of Illinois was a bit too flat for a native Maine canoeist and hiker! The opportunity to teach at his alma mater was too good an opportunity to pass up. In 1981, Mac accepted a temporary position as a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, teaching courses in Statics, Materials Lab, Structural Steel Design, and Matrix Structural Analysis.
In 1983, Mac joined the School of Engineering Technology faculty. Several years later, he was instrumental in developing the B.S. degree program in Construction Management Technology, becoming Coordinator of the program in 1987. Structural Design is Mac’s favorite course to teach and he also teaches Building Construction, and Soil Mechanics and Foundations. Mac enjoys meeting with students and is advisor to second year students. In addition to teaching, several summers have been spent employed by local corporations and also doing consulting work for the UMaine Department of Industrial Cooperation. Mac also works part time in the Advanced Wood Composite Center.
Mac is:
- a registered professional engineer
- a member of American Society of Civil Engineers