Neel-Schaffer, Inc., is pleased to announce that Richard Aillet, PE, the former director of engineering services for the City of Ruston, La., has joined the firm and will work out of Neel-Schaffer’s office in Shreveport, La.

 Aillet will serve as a Senior Project Manager, with an emphasis on water and wastewater projects. He worked for the City of Ruston for 14 years, eight as the director of water utilities and the last six as the director of engineering services. Prior to that, he worked in the private sector as an engineer and project manager in Louisiana and Texas.

 “As a professional engineer with many years of experience in both the consultant and municipal arenas, with an emphasis in utility engineering, Richard will be a tremendous asset to the region and the firm, particularly in north Louisiana,” said Jerry Trumps, Neel-Schaffer’s Southwest Area Manager. “Richard will provide both technical and project support, along with business development support.”

Trumps said Aillet’s addition puts Neel-Schaffer “at an even higher level in north Louisiana, especially considering his engineering background in water and wastewater.” Additionally, said Trumps, “he adds significant depth to the Neel-Schaffer overall discipline as we continue to expand our water and wastewater discipline throughout the Southwest Region and firm-wide.”

“The opportunity to do work back in Shreveport, where I grew up, was really inviting,” said Aillet. “I have a lot of engineering friends in the industry there, and the chance to go back and network and work with them in that environment is something I’m really excited about.”

Aillet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University.