Dr. Billy L. Edge, Ph.D., P.E., is a two-time graduate from the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech and received a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech. Dr. Edge’s career spans more than 40 years and combines government service, consulting, and academia. Currently, he holds dual appointments as a Professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University and Head of Costal Processes and Engineering at the University of North Carolina Costal Studies Institute. In this position he also serves as the Director of Renewable Ocean Energy. His current research is in the use of graphic processing unit (GPU’s) processors for smooth particle hydrodynamics.



Previously he was Head of the Coastal & Ocean Engineering Division of the Civil Engineering Department at Texas A&M University (TAMU). While at TAMU he was also Director of the Texas A&M Haynes Coastal Engineering Laboratory. Prior to TAMU, Dr. Edge worked extensively in the private sector, after serving as a professor at Clemson University for 13 years.



Dr. Edge’s professional interests lie in coastal engineering, renewable ocean energy, dredging technology, hydraulic engineering, and water quality modeling. He has performed extensive research in multiple areas and has written well over 100 publications. He has made many conference presentations both nationally and internationally earning him worldwide recognition. In 2009, he was awarded the Distinguished Member affiliation with the American Society of Civil Engineers and in 2007; he received the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers. He has received the International Coastal Engineering Award in 1997 from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); the W. H. Bauer Professorship in Dredging Engineering in 1994, Texas A&M University; the Morrough P. O’Brien Award in 1993 from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA); and the Arthur M. Wellington Price in 1983 from ASCE.



Dr. Edge is a member of ASBPA, ASCE, Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association, International Association for Hydraulic Research, Permanent International Association for Navigation Congresses, and Western Dredging Association. His professional activities have included being a member of the prestigious Marine Board, National Academy of Engineering; vice-chair, Coastal Engineering Research Council, Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Division, ASCE; and editor for 25 years of the Proceedings of the International Conference on Coastal Engineering. He recently served as the President on the Governing Board of the ASCE’s Coasts, Oceans, Ports, Rivers Institute and President of the Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineers. He currently serves as the Technical Region Director of the ASCE Board of Direction.