Marcello Arrorio Bebianno Simoes Joins DSC Design and Construction

Marcello Arrorio Bebianno Simoes visits Gross Reservoir in Boulder, Colorado in the late fall.

What is your name and job title? Marcello Arroio Bebianno Simoes, Project Specialist, Design and Construction, Denver Service Center (DSC).

What experience and education do you have? I hold a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Engineering for Developing Communities from University of Colorado, Boulder.

I worked in construction management for about a year and a half, and as a site design engineer for about three and half years, both in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. I obtained my Professional Engineering license in 2018 in the state of Maryland.

What attracted you to a position with the National Park Service? I was attracted to the National Park Service (NPS) because it was an opportunity to pursue a career in civil engineering with a purpose and goal that I believe in, and an organization to push me to do my best. The position attracted me because it allows me to interact with people with unique backgrounds and different trades, perform site visits, review designs, and work on projects with differing components and unique challenges.

What are projects are you working on? I’m currently working on several projects in the east and Caribbean. In Boston, I am helping finish a storm window replacement and bathroom remodel in Lowell National Historic Park. In the U.S. Virgin Islands I am working on staff housing repair, replacement of a bulkhead, and in the design phases for a new visitor center. I am also working on two projects that are in the very early stages, a well replacement in New Jersey, and the seawall replacement in Washington D.C.. I am very excited to be working on projects with different scopes and in different phases.

What is a typical day like? Currently, my typical day starts with checking and responding to emails. Since most of my projects are on a time zone ahead of mountain time, my inbox in the morning is usually pretty full. I generally have late morning weekly project progress meetings. After these meetings I work on responding to Requests for Information (RFI), reviewing submittals, putting together Record of Negotiations (RON), and making sure everything is filed correctly and up to date. I also usually have mid-afternoon progress meetings. At some point I try to catch up with the project managers I’m working with to coordinate activities.

What career advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a similar path? I don’t have much advice to give, except that I believe that my exposure to both the design and construction side of projects has really helped me have a comprehensive understanding of the full cycle of projects. Given that at the DSC a project team is in charge of a project from cradle to grave, I believe this is very important.