About Me

Bio

Personal interests

Why Hire Me?

The picture below is from the 2014 ASCE concrete canoe project.

In the spring of 2016 Dustin Burner will graduate from the Colorado School of Mines with a Master's of Science in Civil Engineering. However, this will not be the first of his academic accomplishments. Preceding his attendance at the Colorado School of Mines he received his Associates degree in Construction Management from Redstone College in Broomfield Colorado. Notable undertakings during this period include his maintaining a full time position with FCI Constructors Inc. as a carpenter while attending night school in pursuit of his Construction Management degree. After graduating Redstone College at the age of twenty he set his sights on attending engineering school at the Colorado School of Mines. 

               During Dustin’s tenure at the Colorado School of Mines he was an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. His most notable deed was his participation on the Colorado School of Mines ASCE 2014 Concrete Canoe Team. More than 50 seniors applied for a position on the team but only 8 were selected. During this two semester project Dustin and his team committed over 2200 man hours to design, build, and race a concrete canoe. His position on the team was the Construction/Safety Manager, which gave him the responsibility of insuring the design could be built and then doing so in the safest possible manner. Although his main role of leadership was the construction portion of the project, the team was limited to eight members, so his contributions involved every portion of the project. He had to quickly learn how to switch from a leadership role to a supporting role based on the activity being conducted. This convoluted hierarchy allowed for a very fluid team dynamic. The lessons learned from having to lead at times while support at others have taught Dustin the importance of teamwork.

               The next accomplishment that Dustin is most know for is his submission to the 2014 Broader Impacts Essay Competition. With over 270 graduating senior applicants only one was selected as the top entry. His submission of “Fun Theory” impressed the board of judges to the extent of honoring him at the 2014 trade fair with first place. His essay can be found on his “Accomplishments” page along with a more detailed explanation of the competition.

               Having become an award winning author and experienced builder of concrete canoes are not his most notable characteristics concerning employment with a structural firm. Dustin has been in the construction field for over 8 years as a seasonal employee which has allowed him to gain an insight into the construction process that most recent graduates cannot possess. Some of his notable concrete experiences include:

·        20,000+ SQFT slab on structural deck

o   FF rating of 65

o   FL rating of 35

·        Cancer center structural concrete walls with lead imbed plates

·        20,0000+ SQFT slab on grade

o   With/without in floor heat

·        Traditional footing and foundation walls

·        Extra thick slabs that require monitoring of temperature gradients as a result of the heat of hydration

Though he lacks experience in designing these structural concrete members, he has extensive experience casting them. This understanding of the construction process could lend itself to the design process in enormous ways. After all, the design-build approach to construction is quickly replacing the design-bid-build because of this very same reason. In Conclusion, it is Dustin’s mission to find a structural firm that is willing to train him in the field of structural engineering while also having the possibility of returning to graduate school for is masters in structural engineering if necessary.

Though my free time is often limited, I prefer outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. I also enjoy snowboarding and wakeboarding.