Thomas Davis Rust '65

Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Pennoni

I am a practicing professional engineer (Civil Engineer) who has been involved in public service serving as the mayor of Herndon and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. I also served on the Virginia Tech board of Visitors for two terms and was a member of the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech.

Where you've been in your career and where you are going...
I have had a successful career as a consulting engineer in private practice and am now semi-retired, but still involved in a leadership position with the engineering firm.

The work project/initiative you're most excited about...
I was involved in many exciting projects in my engineering professional life and enjoyed my contributions to Virginia's citizens as an elected official.

How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline...
A successful engineer who also served the public as an elected official.

Fondest Virginia Tech memory or tradition...
Creating lifelong friends through the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.

How Virginia Tech equipped me for the 'real world'...
It gave me a great education.

Biggest misconception about my job or industry...
All engineers are introverted and 'nerds'.

Best advice I've gotten...
Work hard.

Best part of being a Virginia Tech alum...
Being an active part of the Hokie Nation.

Words of encouragement to a current Virginia Tech student...
Work hard and you will have success.

A key habit, practice, or skill, that's worth the effort...
Time Management.

This excites me the most about the future of my industry...
There will always be a need for engineers.

A person who has inspired me...
Winston Churchill.

Top of my bucket list...
See the Egyptian pyramids.

My favorite quote...
PRESS ON.

Something very few people know about me...
I had race cars.