John Cleary

John Cleary serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering within the College of Engineering at the University of South Alabama. His leadership encompasses departmental administration, teaching core courses in structural analysis and design, and directing research on infrastructure resilience in coastal environments.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University
• M.S. in Civil Engineering from Cleveland State University
• Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Cleveland State University

Dr. Cleary's research centers on structural engineering challenges in coastal zones, with emphasis on hurricane-induced damage, wave load effects on bridges, and forensic analysis of structural failures. He investigates concrete deterioration, construction vibrations from pile driving, and low-cost retrofit solutions for disaster resilience. His work bridges theoretical analysis with practical applications in Gulf Coast infrastructure.

Publication trends (2013-2018) reveal concentrated work on hurricane impacts (Katrina and Harvey), pile-driving vibration monitoring, and coastal bridge engineering. His output spans journal articles, conference proceedings, and government reports for agencies like the Alabama Department of Transportation, demonstrating strong industry-academia collaboration on climate adaptation and infrastructure safety.

As Faculty Advisor for Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society, Dr. Cleary mentors high-achieving students. His research is supported through partnerships with the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research and state transportation departments, focusing on projects like Mobile River Bridge vibration monitoring and safe room retrofits.