SAN FRANCISCO - Philip Curtis, P.E., has been named a vice president at Syska Hennessy Group. In his new position, Curtis will serve as managing director of the San Francisco office and assume the leadership of the firm's existing Bay Area clients. He replaces Joseph Desiderio, who is retiring after nearly 20 years with the firm.

Reporting to the firm's executive vice president, Gary Brennen, Curtis will oversee the expansion of that office's critical facilities, science and technology, and health care practices. According to the firm, Curtis is also member of Syska's National Critical Facilities Leadership Team, which works closely with National Critical Facilities director Cyrus Izzo.

Curtis has over 25 years of professional experience in commercial and industrial engineering. Prior to joining Syska Hennessy Group, he was president and CEO of an energy industry technology services company, which provided transmission system design and consulting services. Over a five-year period, Curtis was responsible for start-up and ongoing operations, transforming the organization into a profitable professional consulting/engineering services group with clients that ranged from large utility holding companies to small electric co-ops. Previously, Curtis was general manager of a software company geared to the electric power industry.

A licensed professional engineer in California, Curtis earned an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Syska Hennessy Group (www.syska.com) is a consulting, engineering, technology, and construction firm. With offices in 15 cities throughout the U.S., the firm says it has helped engineer and construct some of the world's most innovative, technically sophisticated, and energy-efficient buildings.

Publication date: 03/06/2006