Earl Rusty Lee II

Earl 'Rusty' Lee II is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware and a core faculty member of the Disaster Research Center. He earned a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering (1978), an M.S. in Management (2004), and a Ph.D. in Decision Science and Engineering Systems (2006) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After retiring as a Commander from the U.S. Navy in 2002, he transitioned to academia, focusing on modeling transportation and interdependent infrastructure systems.

His research explores:

• Transportation systems: Autonomous vehicle integration, traffic flow optimization, and energy consumption modeling.
• Infrastructure resilience: Disaster response frameworks, vulnerability assessments, and climate adaptation.
• Urban sustainability: Energy-transportation nexus, geospatial analysis, and policy development.

His publications (2013–2020) predominantly address autonomous intersection management, CAV clustering, disaster resilience, and urban energy modeling, showcasing a focus on algorithmic solutions for sustainable infrastructure.

Awards & Honors:

• 2020 College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service and Community Engagement
• 2017 Safety Coin from the Federal Highway Administration

He directs the Delaware T2/LTAP Center, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and Delaware DOT, which facilitates technology transfer, workforce development, and safety initiatives for transportation agencies. The center engages students in real-world projects.