Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy's Richard Little Inducted into the National Academy of Construction

Business Wire, Oct 13, 2008

Little Recognized for Devotion to the Improvement of Public Facilities

LOS ANGELES -- Richard G. Little, director of The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy (Keston Institute), has been elected to the National Academy of Construction (NAC) (http://www.naocon.org). Little was nominated for a career devoted to improving the planning, management, and policy development related to public facilities, and was inducted into the NAC during ceremonies that were held on October 9th & 10th in Bartlesville, OK.

The National Academy of Construction is an independent organization made up of industry leaders widely recognized for their outstanding contributions to the construction industry. The election of members follows a peer-nomination and clearance procedure that is administered by NAC's Membership Committee, with final new membership elected by the entire Academy. Qualifying achievements must have contributed to the effectiveness of the construction industry and received wide recognition by industry peers.

Members of the NAC, all acknowledged construction industry leaders, serve in a public advisory capacity as need arises. Through its awards program, the organization identifies and recognizes fresh and novel industry achievement. They also provide a network system of linkage between past and present participants in the industry.

As Director of The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California (USC), Richard Little, a specialist in infrastructure systems and their role in modern society, plays an integral role in managing a program of research aimed at stimulating the discussion of critical national infrastructure issues.

Prior to joining The Keston Institute in 2004, Mr. Little was Director of the Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment of the National Research Council where he directed and published numerous research studies dealing with lifecycle management, financing of infrastructure, hazard preparedness, and project management. His experience also includes 15 years as Director of the Planning Division for the Office of Comprehensive Planning in Fairfax County, Virginia.

In addition to his present position as Director of The Keston Institute, Mr. Little currently serves as Editor of Public Works Management & Policy, the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities and the International Journal of Emergency Management. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance at James Madison University and has been certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Mr. Little received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Master of Science degree in Urban-Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

About The Keston Institute

The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California is a non-partisan research center that actively addresses California and the nation's public finance and infrastructure challenges. It is specifically focused on regional and national transportation and water issues and promoting economic viability, livability and environmental sustainability.

The University of Southern California (USC), which houses The Institute within its School of Public Policy, Planning and Development (SPPD), whose faculty collectively ranks third at USC in terms of per capita research grants, is one of the nation's leading research facilities for issues relating to public finance and infrastructure finance in the nation.

Together with the Keston Institute, the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development, has created the only educational and policy degree track in the field of civil infrastructure, with the goal of making USC a world leader in infrastructure and policy development.

The Institute's ongoing research is exclusively focused on analyzing core infrastructure challenges facing California and the nation, while presenting realistic, objective recommendations to voters and policymakers. For more information about The Keston Institute, please visit http://www.usc.edu/keston