Abdul Hadi Rakin, P.E.

As a highly respected colleague within our organization, Mr. Abdul Hadi Rakin, P.E. is a licensed professional civil engineer and dedicated leader whose career spans both the United States and Afghanistan. With a professional journey exceeding 40 years, including professional civil engineering licensure since 1989 and multiple terms as President of the Society of Afghan Engineers between 2004 and 2010, he has significantly advanced infrastructure development by managing multi-billion-dollar mega-projects and spearheading water resource initiatives and capacity-building programs.

Professional Engineering Career

Mr. Rakin is a licensed professional civil engineer, maintaining active licenses in both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland since 1989. Over the course of his 40-year career, he has accrued extensive experience in the study, planning, analysis, design, construction management, and program management of high-profile mega-projects. His project management portfolio encompasses initiatives with multi-billion-dollar budgets in both the United States and Afghanistan. His professional affiliations extend beyond our Society; he has been an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for more than 30 years and a member of the American Society of Highway Engineers for over 25 years.

Leadership and Service to the Society of Afghan Engineers

Within our Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE), we recognize Mr. Rakin as a foundational leader who has dedicated years of volunteer service to our mission. He has notably served multiple terms as our President, holding the office from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2010. Following his presidencies, he has remained deeply engaged in our organizational governance, continuously serving as a member of the Board of Directors across numerous terms.

In 2022, we welcomed his nomination and appointment as the Chairperson of the SAE Water Resource Subcommittee. In this capacity, he has directed efforts to ensure coordination between various Afghan government agencies and our Society to address water law, drainage basin studies, and water availability. His subcommittee work also involves conducting feasibility studies for land development, irrigation systems, reservoirs, dams, power plants, and flood control projects.

Technical Contributions and Advocacy

Mr. Rakin has consistently leveraged his platform to share technical knowledge and advocate for Afghanistan’s development. During a capacity-building training in Kabul in 2011, he delivered a comprehensive presentation on the “Comparison of Afghanistan’s Socio-Economic Data with Neighboring Countries” to trainees at the Ministry of Energy and Water. He has also been instrumental in securing resources for Afghan professionals; for instance, he previously reported to the Board of Directors on securing US State Department funding through UNESCO to support the capacity building of Afghan engineering societies.

We continue to benefit from his technical insights today. At our recent General Assembly Meeting, he guided our technical discourse by delivering a presentation addressing the economic development and transportation infrastructure needs in Afghanistan. Furthermore, we appreciate his philanthropic support of our community initiatives, such as his financial contributions to the Badakhshan Landslide Donation fund.