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Dr. W. Allen Marr Retires After a Landmark Career in Geotechnical Engineering
After more than five decades of leadership, innovation, and dedication, Geocomp’s Founder and Former CEO, Dr. W. Allen Marr has announced his retirement, marking the close of more than 50 years of technical leadership and industry impact.
Building a Firm at the Forefront of Infrastructure
Dr. Marr founded Geocomp in 1982 to bring rigorous engineering, advanced measurement, and practical innovation into everyday geotechnical and geostructural practice. Over four decades, he built a company recognized for its ability to solve complex subsurface challenges and support the planning, design, construction, and long-term performance of major infrastructure projects across the United States and internationally.
Under his leadership, Geocomp grew into a multi-division business encompassing Instrumentation and Monitoring, Consulting, Testing (as GeoTesting Express), and Fully Automated Lab Products. He championed the application of automation in the laboratory and in instrumentation—an approach that continues to define Geocomp’s technical identity today.
A Career of Distinction and Global Impact
Dr. Marr’s career has been defined by technical excellence, leadership, and a commitment to advancing geotechnical engineering. Dr. Marr’s contributions draw from a rigorous academic background at institutions known for shaping the field of civil and geotechnical engineering. He received his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from University of California at Davis, and Master’s and Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
A Professional Engineer (PE) and highly sought-after international expert, Dr. Marr has applied his expertise to a wide range of projects, including earthen dams, tunnels, excavations, embankments, landfills, natural slopes, and foundations. Over his 50+ year career, he has consistently translated cutting-edge research into practical solutions, improving safety, efficiency, and risk management in civil infrastructure.
Dr. Marr is a member of the prestigious Moles organization, an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), has taught at MIT, and is a recipient of the H. Bolton Seed Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to geotechnical engineering. His work has had global recognition, with consulting roles on landmark projects.
Dr. Marr’s contributions extend beyond individual projects. He has pioneered: the application of advanced numerical analysis to solve difficult geotechnical problems, the introduction of automation into geotechnical laboratory testing, the practice of real-time construction performance monitoring, and implementing risk-based approaches to underground engineering. His forensic investigations and guidance have helped owners, contractors, and engineers identify practical, cost-effective solutions for complex geotechnical challenges worldwide.
Coming in 2026: Geocomp Expansion
Geocomp continues to help clients manage risk and make better decisions through innovative geotechnical solutions, demand for our services continues to grow accross the country.
Geocomp just completed the expansion of our existing lab in Atlanta to meet client demand. Adding 4,500+ square feet to our existing 6,400 space provides the capacity necessary to support our existing clients and new clients well into the future. Building on the Georgia expansion, we are opening a new lab north of New York City to serve our clients in NYC and the broader region.
The decision to expand our laboratory operations into this region was driven by the size of the market and needs expressed by our clients. When completed in Q2, the new lab in New York will be followed by a second in southern California in Q3. Our vision for the future is to expand offerings across each of these labs and provide integrated Consulting and Monitoring services to more fully meet our clients’ needs.
Powering Progress in Geotechnical Science— from the Arctic to the Classroom
Expanding the Frontiers of Polar Research: Geocomp Supports NATO’s Acoustic Ice Studies
NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) in La Spezia, Italy— recognized for more than 65 years in undersea science, has initiated research on the acoustic properties of Arctic Sea ice to inform protection of under sea infrastructure, mine counter measures, and resurging submarine activity. The program required precise measurement of compressional (Vp) and shear (Vs) wave velocities on irregular ice samples in extreme cold, using acoustic-only methods.
Geocomp modified the DSS PnS measurement system for polar conditions and nonstandard geometries, conducting multiple remote design reviews with CMRE to finalize the approach. The solution included low-temperature-stable fixtures and signal pathways for repeatable coupling on ice; lab protocols to cast custom ice specimens with controlled crystallography; and a technique to embed bender elements directly in the ice for robust P- and S-wave transmission with high signal-to-noise in cold-room environments. Validation testing at Geocomp confirmed reliable velocity acquisition and data quality suitable for deriving elastic properties and feeding large-scale geophysical models.
Geocomp Powers Next-Generation GeotechnicalmEducation at TSACI (Turkmenistan)
The Turkmen State Architecture and Construction Institute (TSACI), a national engineering and energy education hub graduating 750+ professionals annually, is upgrading its geotechnical laboratory to fully automated systems for strength and deformation testing of soils under a range of drainage and stress paths.
In partnership with CFU International Trade & Services, Geocomp’s Products Group is delivering an integrated suite that includes Triaxial and Stress Path systems capable of UU, CU, CD, and arbitrary stress-path testing on soils and soft rocks with precise cell pressure, back pressure, and pore-pressure control; Direct/Residual Shear systems for peak and post-peak characterization with displacement control and continuous data capture; and Lab Vane Shear for undrained shear strength in sensitive and low-plasticity soils.
Full automation enables test execution from setup through completion with continuous acquisition, safeguards, and standardized outputs, while manual mode remains available for instructional use and advanced troubleshooting. High-resolution channels for load, displacement, volume change, and pore pressure support effective-stress interpretation, residual shear characterization, and stress-path design. The result is a training environment aligned with the automation and data workflows used by leading infrastructure and energy projects, strengthening national capability in modern geotechnical practice.
Engineering Confidence Across Markets: A Growing Pipeline for 2026
Geocomp’s teams are currently engaged in some of the most ambitious infrastructure programs in the world, reinforcing Geocomp’s role as a trusted partner for owners, contractors, and designers who need to make faster, safer, data-driven decisions.
Whether we’re helping transform global transportation networks, reinforce critical dams, or optimize mining and renewable energy operations, our work reflects one consistent message: Geocomp’s solutions provide the performance data clients need to keep critical assets operating reliably.
Here’s a snapshot of the breadth of projects from 2025 and continued work in 2026:
Dam Performance & Risk Management
Geocomp is supporting the next phase of the B.F. Sisk Dam project, a major federal safety upgrade at one of the largest earth-fill dams in the western U.S., through long-term instrumentation and automated monitoring. By combining pore-pressure and deformation measurements with satellite and radar data, we provide real-time insights that inform safety reviews, reservoir operations, and long-term risk management.
Bridge Performance & Long-Term Structural Health Monitoring
On the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Geocomp designed and supports a comprehensive structural health monitoring system with one thousand sensors across the span. Under a new contract with the owner, we continue to deliver real-time insights into bridge behavior—helping the team prioritize maintenance, manage life-cycle costs, and reduce operational risk.
Mining & Advanced Geostructural Imaging
In South Africa, our S-scan seismic imaging solution, powered by Sercel, is helping operators at a major iron ore mine detect subsurface voids and understand highly variable rock conditions. These insights improve worker safety while reducing investigation time & cost and supporting more confident mine planning decisions.
Onshore Wind – Structural Monitoring for Re-powered Turbines
For multiple re-powered wind farms in the U.S., Geocomp has installed foundation and tower instrumentation, including strain gauges and tilt meters, to track overturning forces and structural behavior. Real-time data, processed through iSiteCentral®, provides early-warning indicators and performance trends so owners can optimize maintenance strategies, reduce intrusive inspections, and maintain long-term turbine reliability.
As we close the chapter on 2025 and pivot to 2026, Geocomp is not just managing risk, we are helping our clients redefine the future of infrastructure reliability. From the complex instrumentation securing the B.F. Sisk Dam to the real-time insights powering the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the structural integrity of next-generation wind farms, our work across every market center on one critical asset: performance data that owners can trust.
Why Updating Seismic Models Matters for Long-Term Infrastructure Stability
Geocomp recently partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to evaluate an important question: should TVA continue using the 2014 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Model, or transition to the updated 2018 version for its coal combustion residual (CCR) management units?
Why the Hazard Model Matters
The EPA’s legacy rule for CCR impoundments requires seismic stability evaluations but does not prescribe a specific ground motion model. That leaves owners like TVA responsible for choosing which hazard model underpins their design and evaluation criteria. The decision affects how facilities are assessed for seismic demand, safety margins, regulatory defensibility, and long-term planning.
What Geocomp’s Analysis Showed
Geocomp compared the 2014 and 2018 hazard models for TVA’s CCR facilities. The 2018 USGS model predicts on the order of 13–23% higher spectral accelerations, depending on depth and material type. This results in a modest reduction in calculated factors of safety (for example, from about 1.46 to 1.44 in one representative case), but values remain comfortably above 1.0 and within acceptable limits.
Understanding the Trade-offs
The trade-offs are clear:
The 2014 model provides direct, apples-to-apples comparability with roughly a decade of TVA’s existing analyses and slightly higher apparent safety margins, but it is based on an older hazard framework.
The 2018 model reflects the latest USGS science, improves regulatory defensibility, and reduces the likelihood of needing future re-evaluations as standards evolve.
Geocomp’s Recommendation
Geocomp recommended that TVA adopt the 2018 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for ongoing and future seismic stability assessments of its CCR facilities, while avoiding costly re-runs of historic 2D site-response analyses developed under the 2014 model. Differences between the models fall within expected variability, so a documented, criteria-based transition supported by simplified checks provides a practical, defensible path forward.
What This Means for Other Infrastructure Owners
For other infrastructure owners, TVA’s decision illustrates a broader point: as hazard models evolve, aligning with current science can improve long-term resilience and regulatory confidence without necessarily requiring wholesale re-analysis of legacy work.
Geocomp in the Community: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers
Engaging with Future Geotechnical Engineers at UDC
Anna Kotas, PE served as a guest panelist at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), joining geotechnical engineers from Northern Virginia for a lively discussion with undergraduate and graduate students. The event, organized by the ASCE National Capital Section Geo-Institute and Professor Ujwalkumar D. Patil, highlighted UDC’s growing geotechnical program. Professor Patil, who recently added Geocomp’s ShearTrac II and LoadTrac II systems to the lab, shared positive feedback on the equipment’s performance as he continues building the department.
Transportation YOU STEM Summit Sparks Curiosity
At the Women in Transportation (WTS)-Boston Transportation YOU STEM Summit, Theresa O’Riorden led an interactive workshop introducing girls ages 8–18 to soil behavior and basic geotechnical concepts. Using clay, silt, and sand samples prepared with help from Danilo Zeppilli, PE participants compared soil types and watched a liquefaction demonstration featuring a sinking (and later stabilized) model Empire State Building. The session offered a fun, memorable way to learn about geotechnical engineering and real-world soil behavior.
Norwich University Students Tour Geocomp Acton
Engineering students from Norwich University visited our Acton office with professor Adam Sevi and alum Patty Leavenworth from MassDOT. After remarks from Geocomp President, Sean O’Brien, PE and former CEO, W. Allen Marr, PE, students attended a presentation from our Consulting & Monitoring groups, sharing insights from recent Geocomp projects. The visit concluded with a tour of the Products and Testing areas, offering students a firsthand look at our capabilities and equipment.
