Jack E. Rinker has had a long and distinguished career within the civil engineering community. His leadership at Rinker Design Associates, P.C. has allowed the firm to become an industry leader within the Northern Virginia Region providing civil engineering, land planning, transportation engineering, environmental, and surveying services.



A 1960 graduate of Virginia Tech, Mr. Rinker began his career like many graduates, working for Massey Engineers. However, he has an entrepreneurial spirit and in 1978 he started his own firm, J.E. Rinker & Associates. In 1982 he joined forces with Douglas M. Detwiler to form Rinker-Detwiler & Associates, P.C., now Rinker Design Associates, P.C. He is chairman of the board at RDA and remains a major component of the company.



A major lesson learned at Virginia Tech was "you never stop learning" and he has exemplified that throughout his career. As technologies changed over the years, he embraced the changes and made sure the firm stayed on the cutting edge of technology. As he advanced in his career, Mr. Rinker was always able to reinvent himself. From a young designer to leader and president of a firm, he is now a renowned expert witness in highway condemnation cases.



He remains a down-to-earth person even though his distinguished career has earned him many awards and honors. He has served on the Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Board since 2001 and is a founding member of the Engineers and Surveyors Institute (ESI). The purpose of ESI is to develop quality design and survey services leading to better understanding and a more rapid review and approval of plans. He is cofounder of the George Mason University Urban Systems Engineering Institute and served on their board from 1995 to 2000. He is recipient of The Virginia Society of Professional Engineers Distinguished Service Award and is a Fellow in the American Society of Professional Engineers. He continues to participate in the student-mentoring program at Virginia Tech and enjoys the student interaction obtained from being an alumni board member.



As a professional, he not only focuses his efforts on his work, but provides hours of community service and financial aid for many organizations. He was chairman of the United Way (Prince William County) from 1998 to 2002. He is co-chairman of the Capital Program for the Rainbow Center, a 4-H Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program in Haymarket, Va. He is a published author of several professional articles as well as "The Adventures of Tractor Mouse," a children’s book.



Throughout his career, Mr. Rinker has continued to learn, exemplified excellent leadership skills, furthered his profession, furthered the careers of others, and most importantly, given back to his community.