THEO A. DILLAHA III, PH.D., P.E.
Professor of Biological Systems Engineering
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0303
Phone: 540-231-6813; Fax: 540-231-3199
E-mail: dillaha@vt.edu
EDUCATION:
1981 Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering, Purdue University
1976 M.S. Environmental & Water Resources Engineering, Vanderbilt University
1974 B.E. Environmental & Water Resources Engineering, Vanderbilt University
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Agricultural pollution control
Water supply and sanitation
Curriculum development
Erosion control
Hydrologic and water quality modeling
Program and personnel management
Soil and water conservation engineering
Sustainable development
Systems analysis and holistic problem
solving
Watershed management
Water resources management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
April 1999 - present: Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg. Research and teaching in the areas of soil
and water conservation engineering, agro-environmental engineering, hydrologic
modeling, nonpoint source pollution control, and water supply and waste disposal in
rural areas and developing countries. Coordinator for undergraduate curriculum and
teaching program (2000 – 2004).
Oct. 2004 – Dec 2010: Program Director Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources
Management Collaborative Research Support System (SANREM CRSP). Ten years, $27
million USAID funded program supporting applied research in the areas of sustainable
agriculture and natural resources management in developing countries.
May 1989 – April 1999: Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. Research and
teaching in the areas of agro-environmental engineering, land application of water
treatment residuals, water quality modeling, nonpoint source pollution control, soil
and water conservation engineering, and water supply and waste disposal in rural
areas and developing countries.
Aug. 1994 - July 1995: Fulbright Fellow, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius,
Reduit. Lecturing, research and program development in areas of environmental
science, agricultural pollution control, and water quality modeling and monitoring.
Sept. 1983 - May 1989: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. Research and
teaching in the areas of environmental engineering, land application of water
treatment residuals, water quality modeling, nonpoint source pollution control, soil
and water conservation engineering, and water supply and waste disposal in rural
areas and developing countries.
Oct. 1981 - May 1983: Assistant Professor, Water and Energy Research Institute,
University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam. Research and program development in the
areas of soil and water management, appropriate technology water supply, erosion
control, marine water quality, and hydrologic modeling. Teaching: Computer
Science, Public Health Engineering.
Aug. 1978 - Sept. 1981: Graduate Research Instructor, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering,
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. Research in the area of nonpoint source
pollution due to agricultural and construction activities; development of analytical
simulation models; design, construction and maintenance of watershed monitoring
equipment. Part-time Ph.D. student in the area of Soil and Water Resources
Engineering.
July 1977 - Aug. 1978: Graduate Assistant, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, University
of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. Development of a computerized data management
system for the State of Arkansas for use in water resources planning. Ph.D. student in
Soil and Water Resources Engineering.
June 1976 - May 1977: Municipal Sanitary Engineer, Peace Corps, Agadir, Morocco.
Design and construction of sewers, regional wastewater treatment system, supervision
draftsmen, math tutoring, etc.
Jan. 1975 - May 1976: Environmental and Water Resources Engineer, WAPORA, Inc.,
Washington, D.C. Development and utilization of water quality models for water
quality planning, wastewater treatment plant evaluation, statistical analysis,
fluorometric dye studies, project and field study management.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION:
Registered Professional Civil Engineer - Virginia (No. 014724)
COURSES TAUGHT:
Biological Systems Engineering
Laboratory
Comprehensive Design Project
Computer Programming (Univ of Guam)
Ecosystem Assessment, Management,
and Policy
Environmental Science for Engineers
Freshman Year Experience
Intro to Env Studies (Univ. of Mauritius)
Intro to Green Engineering
Land Application of Wastes
Land and Water Resources Engineering
Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
Nonpoint Source Pollution Modeling
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Parametric Watershed Models
Public Health Engineering (Community
College of Micronesia, FSM)
Soil Conservation Engineering
Sprinkler Irrigation Technology
Total Maximum Daily Loads
Water Supply & Sanitation in Developing
Countries
Watershed Engineering
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Ethiopia. 2012. Africa-USA Higher Education Development Conference, Addis Ababa. Feb. 1116, 2012.
South Sudan. 2001-2012. HED/USAID sponsored rebuilding Higher Education in Agriculture in
South Sudan program. Team leader. Aug. 7-19, Oct 21-29, 2011, Feb 16-22, 2012.
Ethiopia. 2009, 2011. USAID sponsored projects: Assessment of training needs to improved
sustainability of rural feeder roads and Training of Trainers for Environmentally Sound
Design and Implementation of Labor-Based Feeder Road Public Works Construction
Projects of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). Dessie. Instructor and training
program coordinator, Apr. 4-11, 2009, June 10-25, 2011, Feb. 11-16, 2012
Haiti. March 2011. Engineers without Borders-USA project assessment trip to St. Therese
Hospital, Hinche Haiti. Water supply and sanitation improvement project. Professional
mentor to student team. Mar.6-11, 2011 , Jan. 7-14, 2012.
Kenya. August 2010. USAID sponsored US university representative to the Southern Sudan
Agricultural Conference, Nairobi.
Haiti. July 2010. Meetings with Zanmi Lasante, Midwives for Haiti, and staff of St. Therese
Hospital, Hinche to discuss hospital water supply and sanitation situation, other needed
improvements and agree upon roles and responsibilities for partners. Meetings with Zanmi
Lasante, Zanmi Agrikol, Caritas, and Virginia Tech partners to plan the SANREM CRSP
Haiti conservation agriculture research program.
Costa Rica, Feb. 2010. Conference organizer, sponsor and presenter at the 21st Century
Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and the Environment. Earth University,
Limón, Costa Rica, Feb. 21-24, 2010.
Sudan. Aug. 2010, Nov. 2008, March 2009, and Aug. 2009. Project with southern Sudanese
universities in the assessment of agricultural human resource needs and the development of
appropriate university level agricultural curricula for the Southern Sudan. Meetings with
USAID/Sudan Mission personnel.
Thailand and Cambodia. January 2009. Conference organizer, sponsor and presenter at the
International Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Conference in Southeast Asia, Chiang
Mai, Thailand Jan 5-8,2009. Meetings with USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia
personnel in Bangkok.
Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Aug. – Sept 2008. Participation in the Global Change and
Water Resources in West Africa International Conference, Aug. 25-28, 2008 in
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and exploration of potential research partnerships with
Ghanaian universities and research institutes to address agricultural development problems in
northern Ghana. Meetings with USAID/Ghana Mission personnel.
Indonesia, Vietnam, and Philippines, May-June 2008. Assessment of SANREM CRSP research
programs and SANREM CRSP Annual Meeting, Los Baños, Philippines. Meetings with
USAID/Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines Mission personnel.
Chile, March 30 – April 3, 2008. Conference organizer, sponsor and presenter at the 21st
Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and Environment, Concepcion.
Guatemala, March 2 – 8, 2008. Faculty advisor for Engineers without Borders – Virginia Tech
site assessment trip for the design and construction of a water supply and treatment system
for the IMOA Middle School in Xix. Rehabilitated severely leaking ferrocement water
storage tank and spring box, installed hand pump on spring box.
Dominican Republic, Dec. 15 – 20, 2007. Faculty advisor for Engineers without Borders –
Virginia Tech implementation trip to install a water treatment system (UV disinfection) for
the Verón health clinic.
Haiti, Dec. 2 – 8, 2007. Participatory appraisal for establishment of a model research farm and
agricultural outreach program for the Dioceses of Hinche and Richmond, Virginia. Meeting
with USAID/Haiti Mission personnel.
Bolivia, June 16 – 30, 2007. Meeting chair and organizer, SANREM CRSP Annual Meeting;
assessment of SANREM CRSP field sites. Meeting with USAID/Bolivia Mission personnel.
Madagascar, May 13 – 28, 2007. Technical Assistance to the USAID Mission/Madagascar.
Action Plan for Restoration at Ambohilero Forest, Madagascar, and Similar Areas of
Degradation. Meetings with USAID/Madagascar Mission personnel.
Indonesia, Vietnam, and Philippines, Jan. 22 to – Feb. 13, 2007. Assessment of SANREM CRSP
research programs and speaker at the Global Event on Payments/Rewards for Environmental
Services Grand Legi Hotel, Lombok, Indonesia. Meetings with USAID/Indonesia and
Philippines Mission personnel.
Dominican Republic, Jan. 7 – 13, 2007. Faculty advisor for Engineers without Borders –
Virginia Tech site assessment trip for the design and construction of a water treatment system
for the Verón health clinic. Meeting with USAID/DR Mission personnel.
Guatemala, Dec. 2 – 9, 2006. Technical assistance to Sweet Briar College on the design and
establishment of an international service learning program in the community of Xix for
undergraduate engineering students. Volunteer. Meeting with USAID/Guatemala Mission
personnel.
Dominican Republic, May 27-June 3, 2006. Conference chair and organizer, Biodiversity
Conservation in Agriculture Symposium, Punta Cana
Kazakhstan, May 10 – June 1, 2004. ACDI-VOCA volunteer. Project title: Improved Qualityorientation of Community Potable Water Supply System Projects (KAZ-08-04)
Fulbright Africa Research Scholars Peer Review Committee, 1998-2000.
Mauritius, Aug. 16, 1994 – July 18, 1995. Fulbright Fellowship to help the University of
Mauritius develop an environmental science curriculum. Applied agricultural watershed
management and water quality research and extension activities.
Albania, May 23 – June 10, 1994. Capacity building with the Albanian National Soils Institute
and other Albanian agency personnel on assessment of the extent of soil contamination with
toxic wastes and possible remediation techniques. VOCA volunteer.
Russia and Ukraine, May 3 – 25, 1991 and July 6 to 31, 1992. Cooperative research and
capacity building with personnel of the Ukrainian Scientific Center for the Protection of
Waters on agricultural nonpoint source pollution control technology, hydrologic modeling,
and watershed management.
Soviet Union, June 1 – 22, 1990. Cooperative research and capacity building with personnel of
the All Soviet Scientific Center for the Protection of Waters on agricultural nonpoint source
pollution control technology, hydrologic modeling, and watershed management.
Micronesia (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Republic of Palau, Federated
States of Micronesia) Oct. 1981 - May 1983. Applied research and extension activities in the
areas of appropriate technology water supply, water and wastewater treatment, erosion
control, marine water quality, and hydraulic modeling. Teaching: Computer Science (Guam),
Public Health Engineering (Ponape, FSM).
Japan, March 1982 – May 1983. Periodic consulting for Do Joka Senta, Ltd. on the Niimi soil
purification process, an alternative on-site wastewater disposal system.
Morocco, June 1976 - May 1977: Municipal Sanitary Engineer, Peace Corps, Agadir, Morocco.
Design and construction of sewers, regional wastewater treatment system, supervision
draftsmen, math tutoring, etc.
Countries worked in: Albania, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ghana,
Guatemala, Guam, Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mauritius, Micronesia,
Morocco, Philippines, Russia, Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam
Personal travel in: Botswana, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Jamaica,
Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Taiwan, Zimbabwe and most of Europe and the Caribbean.
LANGUAGES:
French – Fair
Spanish – Poor
Russian – Very poor
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, American Society of Civil
Engineers, Soil and Water Conservation Society (International President 2006 – 2007),
Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development, Engineers without BordersUSA, World Association of Soil and Water Conservation
PUBLICATIONS
Dillaha, T. A. and D. B. Beasley, 1983. Sediment transport from disturbed upland watersheds.
Transactions of the ASAE 26(6):1766-1772, 1777.
Dillaha, T. A. and W. J. Zolan, 1985. Rainwater catchment water quality in Micronesia. Water
Research 19(6):741-746.
Dillaha, T. A., W. J. Zolan, and J. H. Sherrard, 1986. Design of saline waste stabilization
lagoons in tropical areas. Civil Engineering for Practicing and Design Engineers
5(4):281-303.
Sherrard, J. H., D. R. Moore, and T. A. Dillaha, 1987. Total dissolved solids: determination,
sources effects, and removal. J. of Environmental Education 18(2):19-24.
Kenimer, A.L., S. Mostaghimi, R.W. Young, T.A. Dillaha, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1987. Effects of
residue cover on pesticide losses from conventional and no-tillage systems. Transactions of
the ASAE 30(4):953-959.
Khorashahi, J. R.K. Byler and T.A. Dillaha. 1987. An Opto-electronic soil profile meter.
Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 2(1987):145-155.
Storm, D.E., T.A. Dillaha, S. Mostaghimi, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1988. Modeling phosphorus
transport in surface runoff. Transactions of the ASAE 31(1):117-127.
Mostaghimi, S., T.A. Dillaha, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1988. Influence of tillage systems and residue
levels on runoff, sediment and phosphorus losses. Transactions of the ASAE 31(1):128-132.
Dillaha, T.A., J.H. Sherrard, D. Lee, S. Mostaghimi, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1988. Evaluation of
vegetative filter strips as a best management for feedlots. J. Water Pollution Control
Federation 60:1231-1238.
Siddeek, F.Z., T.A. Dillaha, and G.V. Loganathan. 1988. Water management for lowland rice
irrigation. J. of Irrigation and Drainage Div., ASCE 114(3):407-423.
Dillaha, T.A., B.B. Ross, S. Mostaghimi, C.D. Heatwole, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1988. Rainfall
simulation: A tool for best management practice education. J. of Soil and Water
Conservation 43(4):288-290.
Mostaghimi, S., J.M. Flagg, T.A. Dillaha, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1988. Phosphorus losses from
cropland as affected by tillage system and application method. Water Resources Bulletin
24(4):735-742.
Lee, D., T.A. Dillaha, and J.H. Sherrard. 1989. Modeling phosphorus transport in grass buffer
strips. J. of the Environmental Engineering Div., ASCE 115(2):408-426.
Kenimer, A.L., S. Mostaghimi, T.A. Dillaha, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1989. PLIERS: Pesticide
losses in erosion and runoff simulator. Transactions of the ASAE 32(1):126-137.
S. Mostaghimi, M.M. Deizman, T.A. Dillaha, and C.D. Heatwole. 1989. Impact of land
application of sludge on runoff water quality. Transactions of the ASAE 32(2):513-519.
Dillaha, T.A., R.B. Reneau, S. Mostaghimi, and V.O. Shanholtz. 1989. Vegetative filter strips for
nonpoint source pollution control. Transactions of the ASAE 32(2):491-496.
Deizman, M.M., S. Mostaghimi, T.A. Dillaha, and C.D. Heatwole. 1989. Tillage effects on
phosphorus losses from sludge amended soils. J. of Soil and Water Conservation
44(3):247-251.
Dillaha, T.A., J.H. Sherrard, and D. Lee. 1989. Long-term effectiveness and maintenance of
vegetative filter strips. Water Environment and Technology 1(3):418-421.
Mustafa, G., T.A. Dillaha, S.C. Sarin, W.L. Daniels, and S. Mostaghimi. 1990. Revegetation of
reclaimed mine soils under weather uncertainty: A stochastic dynamic optimization
approach. Resource Management and Optimization 8(1):15-30.
Walker, S.E., S. Mostaghimi, T.A. Dillaha, and F.E. Woeste. 1990. Modeling animal waste
management practice impacts on bacterial levels in runoff from agricultural lands.
Transactions of the ASAE 33(3):807-817.
Kumar, D., C.D. Heatwole, B.B. Ross, and T.A. Dillaha. 1992. A knowledge-based system for
preliminary selection and economic evaluation of sprinkler irrigation systems. Applied
Engineering in Agriculture 8(4):441-447.
Hession, W.C., V.O. Shanholtz, S. Mostaghimi and T.A. Dillaha. 1994. Uncalibrated
performance of the finite element storm hydrograph model, Transactions of the ASAE
37(3):777-783.
Lucas, J.B., T.A. Dillaha, R.B. Reneau, J.T. Novak, and W.R. Knocke. 1994. Effects of alum
sludge on plant growth. J. Am. Water Works Assn. 86(11): 75-83.
Mostaghimi, S., T.M. Gidley, T.A. Dillaha, and R.A. Cooke. 1994. Different approaches for
controlling sediment. J. Soil and Water Conservation 49(6): 615-620.
Bouraoui, F. and T.A. Dillaha. 1996. ANSWERS-2000: A model for estimating long-term
sediment and runoff from agricultural watersheds. J. of Environmental Engineering, ASCE
122(6):493-502.
Wood, L.G., B.J. Watten, C.G. Haugh, G.S. Libey and T.A. Dillaha. 1996. Modeling gas transfer
and biological respiration in a recirculating aquaculture system. Aquacultural Engineering
15(5):359-379.
Heatwole, C.D., S. Zacharias, S. Mostaghimi and T.A. Dillaha. 1997. Movement of field-applied
atrazine, metalochlor, and bromide in a sandy loam soil. Transactions of the ASAE
40(5):1267-1276.
Mendez-Delgado, A., T. A. Dillaha, and S. Mostaghimi. 1999. Sediment and nitrogen transport
in grass filter strips. J. of the American Water Resources Association 35(4):867-875.
Inamdar, S.P. and T. A. Dillaha. 2000. Relationships between drainage area, slope length, and
slope gradient for riparian slopes in Virginia. Transactions of the ASAE 43(4):861-866.
Bouraoui, F. and T.A. Dillaha. 2000. ANSWERS-2000: Nonpoint Source Nutrient Transport
Model. J. of Environmental Engineering, ASCE 126(11):1045-1055.
Mostaghimi, S., K.M. Brannan, and T.A. Dillaha. 2002. Fecal Coliform TMDL Development:
Case Study and Ramifications. Water Resources Update 122 (March 2002): 27-33.
Benham, B.L., K.M. Brannan, E. Yagow, R.W. Zeckoski, T.A. Dillaha, S. Mostaghimi, and J.W.
Wynn. 2005. Development of Bacteria and Benthic Total Maximum Daily Loads: A Case
Study, Linville Creek, Virginia. J. Environmental Quality 34:1860-1872.
Zeckoski, R. W., B. L. Benham, S. B. Shah, M. L. Wolfe, K. M. Brannan, M. Al-Smadi, T. A.
Dillaha, S. Mostaghimi, C. D. Heatwole. 2005. BSLC: A Tool for Bacteria Source
Characterization for Watershed Management. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 21(5):
879−889.
Benham, B.L., J.H. Cunningham, K.M. Brannan, S. Mostaghimi, T.A. Dillaha, J. Pease and E.P.
Smith. 2005. Development of Survey-like Assessment Tools to Assess Agricultural Best
Management Practice Performance Potential. J. of Soil and Water Conservation 60(5):251259.
Harpold, A. A., S. Mostaghimi, P. P. Vlachos, K. Brannan, T. Dillaha. 2006. Stream Discharge
Measurement Using a Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) Prototype.
Transactions of the ASABE 49(6): 1791−1805.
Wagner, R.C., T.A. Dillaha, and E.R. Yagow. 2007. An Assessment of the Reference Watershed
Approach for TMDLs with Biological Impairments. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 181 :341354. http://www.springerlink.com/content/y2g18177l61v4830/.
Krometis, L.H., T. A. Dillaha, N. G. Love, S. Mostaghimi. 2009. Evaluation of
filtration/dispersion method for enumeration of particle-associated E. coli. Journal of
Environmental Quality 38(3):980-986.
Soupir, M. L., S. Mostaghimi, and T. Dillaha. 2010. Attachment of Escherichia coli and
enterococci to particles in runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality 39(3):1019–1027.
Habersack, M. J., T. A. Dillaha, and C. Hagedorn. 2011. Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra
serpentina) as a Source of Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Freshwater Systems. Journal of the
American Water Resources Association. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00572.x.