Press Release
June 1, 2019
For Immediate Release
From: Richard Tyler, President of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers (VSPE)
VSPE Mourns the Loss of Richard “Rich” H. Nettleton, PE
The VSPE Board of Directors and membership mourn the loss of an inspirational leader, friend and kind advocate of public service with the tragic shooting of Rich Nettleton yesterday while he was wrapping up a busy work week for the Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities. Rich served in several progressive and responsible positions for VSPE and was the 2010 President. He is remembered by his friends and colleagues as a thoughtful, intelligent participant who always listened respectfully and exhibited wisdom and steadfast leadership. During his tenure, Rich always attended Richmond board meetings in person and showed patient leadership to those of us rising through the ranks.
In a letter to young licensed Professional Engineers, Rich wrote “…the efforts of a single individual cannot protect the entire profession. It takes a cadre of dedicated, loyal, and active Professional Engineers to be leaders today and in the future. Your professional society needs leaders to take our profession into the future – it needs YOU!… Only with a collective base of positive, dedicated and loyal Professional Engineers will we succeed and continue to be known as leaders within our community…”
Rich was one of a kind, and he will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and the public who benefited from his tireless efforts as a Professional Engineer to protect life, health and safety.