A Real Case of Professional Misconduct That Sparked an Ethics Firestorm episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 5, 2025 · 25 MIN

A Real Case of Professional Misconduct That Sparked an Ethics Firestorm

from The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast · host Isaac Oakeson

Picture this — you spend months working on the design and construction of a project, and next thing you know, another engineer is on the news poking holes in it for everybody to see. How'd you feel? 🤔In this episode, we dive into a situation like this that happened in real life in a state highway project. What started as a difference in technical opinion only became a full-blown ethics investigation…that even resulted in formal disciplinary action! 😮This story is a perfect reminder that being a civil engineer isn’t just about being good at the technical craft only. Instead, it’s also about ethical conduct — professionalism, integrity, and knowing when (and how) to speak up.The problem? Most engineers don’t take the ASCE Code of Ethics seriously. They feel like it’s one of those things that “only matter in theory.”Well, it may be…until it doesn’t. And this real-life situation makes it pretty clear. If you’ve ever questioned the importance of ethics in real-world practice — not just on the FE or PE exams — this one’s a must-listen. All of us deal with it. Project after project.So, tune in to learn from this real case and make sure you never end up on the wrong side of the ethics line. 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Story Behind This Real-Life Ethical Misconduct in a Nutshell (And How It Ended)Why This Misconduct Violated 2 Canons of the ASCE Code of EthicsIs It a Problem to Have Other Engineers Review Your Work?What Not to Do When Reviewing Another Engineer's WorkWhy It's 100x Easier Today to Make the Same Ethical MistakeThe Canon of the ASCE Code of Ethics That You Need to Live ByWhat's a Letter of Censure?The Biggest Take Away of This Real-Life CaseThe One Time Mark Got "Called Out" for His Design (And What He Did)How to Review the Work of Other Engineers CorrectlyWhat Should You Do When Less Experienced Engineers Call You Out?3 Guardrails to Handle Professional Disagreements Ethically2 Tricks to Deal With Criticism of Your Work Without Hurting Your ReputationThe Ethics Topic on Your Professional Exams🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:ASCE ArticleASCE Code of EthicsTara Hoke🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup Guide🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review Courses📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube [email protected]

Picture this — you spend months working on the design and construction of a project, and next thing you know, another engineer is on the news poking holes in it for everybody to see. How'd you feel? 🤔In this episode, we dive into a situation like this that happened in real life in a state highway project. What started as a difference in technical opinion only became a full-blown ethics investigation…that even resulted in formal disciplinary action! 😮This story is a perfect reminder that being a civil engineer isn’t just about being good at the technical craft only. Instead, it’s also about ethical conduct — professionalism, integrity, and knowing when (and how) to speak up.The problem? Most engineers don’t take the ASCE Code of Ethics seriously. They feel like it’s one of those things that “only matter in theory.”Well, it may be…until it doesn’t. And this real-life situation makes it pretty clear. If you’ve ever questioned the importance of ethics in real-world practice — not just on the FE or PE exams — this one’s a must-listen. All of us deal with it. Project after project.So, tune in to learn from this real case and make sure you never end up on the wrong side of the ethics line. 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Story Behind This Real-Life Ethical Misconduct in a Nutshell (And How It Ended)Why This Misconduct Violated 2 Canons of the ASCE Code of EthicsIs It a Problem to Have Other Engineers Review Your Work?What Not to Do When Reviewing Another Engineer's WorkWhy It's 100x Easier Today to Make the Same Ethical MistakeThe Canon of the ASCE Code of Ethics That You Need to Live ByWhat's a Letter of Censure?The Biggest Take Away of This Real-Life CaseThe One Time Mark Got "Called Out" for His Design (And What He Did)How to Review the Work of Other Engineers CorrectlyWhat Should You Do When Less Experienced Engineers Call You Out?3 Guardrails to Handle Professional Disagreements Ethically2 Tricks to Deal With Criticism of Your Work Without Hurting Your ReputationThe Ethics Topic on Your Professional Exams🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:ASCE ArticleASCE Code of EthicsTara Hoke🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup Guide🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review Courses📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube [email protected]

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A Real Case of Professional Misconduct That Sparked an Ethics Firestorm

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Picture this — you spend months working on the design and construction of a project, and next thing you know, another engineer is on the news poking holes in it for everybody to see. How'd you feel? 🤔In this episode, we dive into a situation like...

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