Dr. Christopher Raebel, P.E., S.E., has been named chair of the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management (CAECM) Department at Milwaukee School of Engineering effective July 1, 2020.

“I am honored to have been selected as the chair of the CAECM Department. As an alumnus, I am passionate about the excellent education MSOE provides its students. The demand for graduates from our department has never been greater, as employers greatly value graduates who have an understanding of fundamental engineering concepts coupled with an understanding of their practical application. CAECM Department faculty do a wonderful job preparing our students for engineering practice or graduate studies,” said Raebel.

As chair of the CAECM Department, Raebel intends to continue to grow and enhance the department through engaging partnerships and advancing curriculum.

“Over the next several years, I plan to further strengthen the department’s already excellent position by engaging with our industry partners, expanding educational opportunities for our students and advancing our curriculum as we transition into a semester-based calendar. MSOE is in an excellent position to lead the nation in civil and architectural engineering and construction management education,” said Raebel.

Raebel is a professor in the CAECM Department. He joined the faculty in 2002 as an adjunct assistant professor in the structural engineering program, and in 2006 became a full-time member of the faculty and architectural engineering program director. His areas of expertise and applied research areas include structural steel design, steel connection design, robustness in steel-framed structures and vibration energy harvesting.

Raebel is actively involved with the American Society of Civil Engineers–Architectural Engineering Institute, where he is currently a member of the Institute’s Board of Governors. He is also active with the American Institute of Steel Construction, where he is on the steel member design task committee. He also is an integral part of MSOE’s Strategic Planning Committee and is helping to lead the university’s efforts in transitioning from the current quarter-based calendar model to a semester-based calendar in 2023.

In 2018, Raebel received the CAECM Faculty Appreciation Award, selected by the students of the CAECM Department. In 2016, he received the Early Career Faculty Award from the American Institute of Steel Construction, which recognizes faculty who demonstrate promise in the areas of structural steel research, teaching, and/or other contributions to the structural steel industry.

Raebel earned his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from MSOE, his Master of Science in Architectural Engineering from Penn State University, and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Marquette University. He is a licensed professional engineer in Wisconsin and seven other states and a licensed structural engineer in Illinois. Prior to joining MSOE full-time, Raebel worked as a structural engineer in private practice for over 10 years.