Iraj Ghaemi leads the Executive Program Management Advisory and Proposal Development & Management services at iConnectEngineers®, with a distinguished career spanning over 40 years in the transportation, aviation, and infrastructure sectors. A visionary leader and industry expert, Iraj is known for driving enterprise-wide transformation and delivering complex capital development programs across the full project lifecycle.

Expertise & Impact

Capital Program Leadership: Directed and executed capital improvement programs (CIPs) exceeding $6 billion, delivering results on time and within budget while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

Strategic Program & Construction Management: Extensive experience with alternative delivery methods, including Design-Build, CM@Risk, P3, and Design-Bid-Build.

Operational Optimization: Achieved a 250% increase in departmental production and a 50% reduction in overhead costs through strategic restructuring and process improvements.

Contract Negotiation: Skilled in managing high-stakes negotiations with contractors, consultants, and public agencies to secure favorable outcomes.

Sustainability Leadership: Developed and implemented sustainable lifecycle strategies for infrastructure programs.

Career Highlights

Vice President, National Transportation – Suffolk Construction
Spearheaded the growth of the Transportation Center of Excellence, leading aviation and transit initiatives across the U.S.

Vice President, Aviation Sector Manager – SNC-Lavalin Atkins
Led aviation operations nationwide, overseeing complex programs and fostering client relationships.

Director of Facilities Development – San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
Managed a $1B annual capital program focused on elevating passenger experience and infrastructure efficiency.

Assistant Director of Engineering – Port of San Diego
Administered a $200M CIP and received the ASCE State of California President’s Award for excellence in project delivery.

Regional Manager – Global Consulting Firm
Led major design and construction efforts across transportation and water sectors, including signature corridor projects in California and Arizona.

Leadership & Advocacy

Iraj is a recognized industry voice and served as:

Former National Chair, Board of Directors – Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), representing over 16,000 professionals.

Former Chair, San Diego County Regional Construction Procurement Committee (RCPC), uniting 25+ public agencies in regional collaboration.

Credentials

Licensed Civil Engineer – California & Arizona

Certified Construction Manager (CCM)

B.S., Civil Engineering – Brigham Young University

About iConnectEngineers®:

iConnectEngineers® is committed to delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions. We specialize in Executive Program Management Advisory Services, comprehensive Strategic Branding and Marketing, and Website Solutions. Learn more at www.iconnectengineers.com.

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