Bill Aden graduated from Virginia Tech’s Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) in 1967 with a B.S. in civil engineering. After a brief employment with the Virginia State Health Department and a more than brief engagement with the U.S Army in Vietnam, he re-enrolled in Virginia Tech and in 1972, earned his M.S. in environmental engineering
Mr. Aden has always been an active member of the engineering community. In 1972, he co-founded Draper Aden Associates, Inc., one of Virginia’s leading engineering consulting companies. Today, the firm has a staff of 220 dedicated employees practicing in offices located in Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Newport News, and Richmond.
As president and CEO of Draper Aden Associates, Mr. Aden has 36 years of consulting engineering, design, and management experience, including a variety of engineering studies and design projects. His particular emphasis is on water supply, wastewater, and water resources. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, West Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee.,
Mr. Aden has served as managing principal on numerous projects for the Service Authorities of Washington, Halifax, and Henry Counties, and the Water Authorities of Western Virginia, Bedford and Botetourt Counties.
His professional memberships include: American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association, Professional Services Management Association, the Virginia Society for Professional Engineers, and the American Council of Engineering Companies. Additionally he is an active participant in the Virginia Water and Sewer Authorities Association, the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties, and the Virginia Local Government Managers Association.
In 1989, Mr. Aden initiated the first publication of the Virginia Water and Sewer Rate Report. This survey is currently in its 21st year of publication and serves as a continuing management tool to the public utilities and governments in Virginia.
In February of 2008, Mr. Aden received the distinguished honor of being commended by the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly. The resolution recognized his generous time and expertise to various civic organizations including the Blacksburg Planning Commission and the board of directors of the Blacksburg Partnership, for which he was one of the founding members and first president. The award also recognized his service to the engineering community and Virginia Tech, his management involvement in the renovations to the Virginia State Capitol, and the invaluable assistance provided to the utilities of Virginia.
In addition to teaching a few courses in CEE, Mr. Aden is a member of the College of Engineering’s Committee of 100 and currently serves on the advisory board to the College of Engineering. He is a past member and chairman of the CEE alumni advisory board.
Bill and his wife Nancy live in Blacksburg and have five sons, four of whom have pursued engineering degrees from Virginia Tech, University of Florida, Georgia Tech, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.