Walter Kutschke, PhD, PE
Vice President and Senior Manager, Geotechnical, Dams & Hydraulics
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, PA
A Conversation With Walter:
Tell us about your career journey.
My career began in the mid-1990s in Baltimore, Maryland, where I had the opportunity to work with S. Murray Miller, PE. He was a legend and a true engineer whom everyone respected, and he taught me what it meant to be an engineer. His mentorship shaped the foundation of my career, and I remain deeply grateful for it.
My path later brought me to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I contributed to signature projects alongside renowned experts in their fields, including levee work in New Orleans, karst projects in Tennessee, and a railroad project that earned a national award and helped me achieve my PhD.
Along the way, I had the privilege of learning from other industry leaders, including Dr. Tony DiGioia, PE, and Richard Gray, PG. Their guidance, along with the lessons I learned from earlier mentors, shaped how I approach both engineering and leadership.
Over the course of my career, I have worked through nine mergers and acquisitions, but what has mattered most is the opportunity to learn from remarkable mentors who were leaders in their field. Mentorship has been one of the defining influences in my journey, and I am very grateful for the guidance I have received. I hope I am providing that same level of mentorship to my team.
GFT is deeply involved in transmission projects. What excites you most about the challenges and innovations in this space today?
Each power delivery project in the geotechnical and geology space is truly unique. Transmission corridors can span several hundred miles and present a wide range of foundation challenges and geohazards. My team works on everything from coastal and overwater foundations to mountainous terrain that requires helicopter construction, as well as geohazard-related emergencies that threaten client assets.
We also conduct applied research and provide training on FAD Tools. In collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the team recently completed a series of full-scale load tests to support the development of a new program called VFAD, a design and analysis tool for vibrated steel caisson foundations used in transmission lines. I am fortunate to lead an exceptional team of industry experts and rising stars.
Tell us about FAD Tools.
FAD Tools, which stands for foundation analysis and design, is a collection of three foundation design modules used to design and analyze foundations for transmission line structures. FAD Tools has a long and impressive history that began in the 1970s under the vision of Dr. DiGioia.
Today, it has become the industry standard for foundation design in the power delivery market, with nearly 250 licenses. Earlier this year, we reached a record when FAD was opened more than 23,000 times in a single month by licensed users. The actual number is even higher because that figure does not include single-user licenses, which cannot be tracked. Dr. DiGioia’s vision has grown into an industry standard, and my team is proud to continue his legacy.
“Walter brings extraordinary technical depth and leadership to FAD, helping drive innovations like FAD Tools and VFAD while strengthening our reputation across the industry. Just as important, his experience supporting transmission clients through complex foundation and geohazard challenges makes him an invaluable part of how we deliver trusted solutions.”
Darren Mack, PE, GE
Vice President and Chief Geotechnical Engineer
How do you stay current with the industry?
I believe GFT leads the geotechnical industry in the power delivery market. My team has worked with EPRI and the Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI), two leading research organizations in power delivery, on challenging geotechnical issues to develop guidance documents referenced across the industry. We have also developed foundation guideline documents for major utilities and updated many of them to reflect evolving industry standards. In addition, the team conducts training for our power delivery clients on geotechnical and geohazard issues.
Our geohazard program has delivered significant value and, in one case, helped establish a standard for a client. We also have strong FAD ambassadors and regularly provide FAD training for our clients. I credit my team for these accomplishments.
Mr. Gray invited me to join the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), specifically Committee D18 – Soil and Rock, where we promote knowledge, research, and the development of specifications and methods for testing these materials. Over time, I have advanced through leadership roles and now serve as an executive officer for D18 and as sub-chair for Subcommittee D18.27 – Karst. D18 includes approximately 1,000 industry experts responsible for more than 320 standards that geotechnical engineers rely on, from soil classification to pile load testing.
I also stay active in the industry by writing technical papers. I have authored more than 20 peer-reviewed papers and received special recognition from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at an international geoconference for my published work, with one paper selected as one of the five best from more than 300 submissions.
What are some key lessons you’ve learned?
Seek out great mentors. Watch, listen, stay humble, and learn everything you can from them. After that, and even if it sounds cliché, always aim for excellence and take pride in your work. Along that journey, good things will happen. And yes, always check the details.
What inspired you to join GFT, and what keeps you here?
I came to GFT through an acquisition. I have stayed because I am fortunate to lead a great team that values excellence and serves a tremendous client base built on trust and value. Dr. DiGioia and Mr. Gray forged relationships that we continue to maintain today. Clients call my team when they have a challenging problem or an urgent need, and that is both our legacy and our honor.
How do you unwind or recharge?
I have an amazing wife and four wonderful children. Traveling with them, whether we are exploring new places or returning to favorite ones, is one of the best ways for me to recharge. Our favorite overseas trip was a pilgrimage to Rome, while the Finger Lakes in New York is our favorite long-weekend getaway.
This Employee Spotlight was originally published on June 8, 2026.
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