MULTILINGUAL ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP IN AFFORDABLE INFRASTRUCTURE: MULTILINGUAL ENGINEERINGLEADERSHIP INAFFORDABLE INFRASTRUCTURE:
AStrategicImperativeforU.S.EconomicResilience
AspartofHumanCapital’songoingseriesonexecutiveleadershipandindustrytransformation,AnaPaulaMontanha, Editor-in-ChiefofHumanCapitalCareerTrendsMagazineinterviewedDamLucianodeJesus,SeniorCivilEngineerwith extensiveexperienceinpublicandprivateconstructionprojects,contractmanagement,structuralcalculations,project planning,andteamcoordination.Inthisconversation,Mr.deJesussharesinsightsfromhiscareerandhowmultilingual engineeringleadershipinaffordableinfrastructureiskeyfortheU.S.EconomicResilience.
Interviewby AnaPaulaMontanha,Editor-in-Chief
INTRODUCTION
Affordableinfrastructuredevelopmentledby multilingualcivilengineersandprojectmanagersisa domainofincreasingnationalurgencyandstrategic value.ThefielddirectlyaddressesAmerica’shousing crisis,publicworksstagnation,andregionalinequality, threechallengesthatcommandtheattentionof federal,state,andprivatesectorstakeholdersalike.
Inaglobalizedandmultilinguallabormarket, engineeringprofessionalswithprovenproject managementsuccessandcross-culturalfluencyare uniquelypositionedtoleadthenextgenerationofU.S. infrastructureexpansion.Theirworkdoesnotmerely filllaborshortages;itacceleratespolicygoals,uplifts localeconomies,andbuildsresilientcommunitiesfit forthedemandsofthe21stcentury.
Theintersectionofaffordablehousing,infrastructure efficiency,andmultilingualengineeringleadershipis oneofthemoststrategicallyurgentandeconomically impactfulareasintoday’sU.S.policyandlabor landscape.
Thisfieldsupportsmultiplenationalpriorities, includingclosingthehousinggap,upgrading Americaninfrastructure,andenhancingworkforce integrationinlinguisticallydiversecommunities.
ThelegalfoundationforU.S.infrastructureand housingdevelopmentdatesbacktolandmark legislation,suchastheHousingActof1949,which initiatedafederalcommitmenttourban redevelopmentandaffordablehousing,andthe NationalHousingActof1934,whichestablishedthe FederalHousingAdministration(FHA).
Inrecentyears,thesemandateshaveevolvedinto broaderinitiativesundertheInfrastructure InvestmentandJobsAct(IIJA)of2021andtheBuild BackBetterframework,whichallocatebillionstoward housing,resilientpublicinfrastructure,andeconomic equityacrossunderservedregions.
TECHNICALANDECONOMICDEFINITIONS
AffordableInfrastructureDevelopmentinvolves planning,building,andmaintainingcost-effective physicalstructures—especiallyresidentialbuildings andcommunityfacilities,
thatmeettheneedsoflow-andmoderate-income populations.Theseprojectsmustadhereto engineeringandsafetystandardswhilestayingwithin limitedpublicorprivatebudgets.
ThelegalfoundationforU.S.infrastructureand housingdevelopmentdatesbacktolandmark legislation,suchastheHousingActof1949,which initiatedafederalcommitmenttourban redevelopmentandaffordablehousing,andthe NationalHousingActof1934,whichestablishedthe FederalHousingAdministration(FHA).
Inrecentyears,thesemandateshaveevolvedinto broaderinitiativesundertheInfrastructure InvestmentandJobsAct(IIJA)of2021andtheBuild BackBetterframework,whichallocatebillionstoward housing,resilientpublicinfrastructure,andeconomic equityacrossunderservedregions.
TECHNICALANDECONOMICDEFINITIONS
AffordableInfrastructureDevelopmentinvolves planning,building,andmaintainingcost-effective physicalstructures,especiallyresidentialbuildings andcommunityfacilities,thatmeettheneedsoflowandmoderate-incomepopulations.Theseprojects mustadheretoengineeringandsafetystandards whilestayingwithinlimitedpublicorprivatebudgets.
ConstructionProjectManagement(CPM)coversthe useofmanagementtechniquesthroughoutthelifeof aconstructionproject,fromstarttofinish.Itincludes resourceplanning,scheduling,contractmanagement, budgetoversight,andcompliancemonitoring. AccordingtotheU.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,the demandforconstructionmanagersisexpectedto grow5%from2022to2032,fasterthantheaverage foralloccupations.
AccordingtotheU.S.BureauofLabor Statistics,thedemandforconstruction managersisexpectedtogrow5%from2022 to2032,fasterthantheaverageforall occupations.
MultilingualEngineeringLeadershiprefersto professionalswhoarefluentintwoormorelanguages andpossessbothtechnicalexpertiseand managementskills.
Theseleadersareessentialincross-border infrastructureprojects,diverseworkforcesettings, andinternationalprojectcoordination.Theirlanguage skillshelpimprovecommunicationwithimmigrant workers,localofficials,andglobalvendors,especially inHispanic-majoritystateslikeFloridaandTexas.
NATIONALWORKFORCERELEVANCE
AccordingtotheU.S.CensusBureau,theUnited Statesfacesashortageof7.3millionaffordable homesforextremelylow-incomerenters.Nearly70% ofthesehouseholdsareseverelycost-burdened, payingmorethanhalfoftheirincomeonhousing. Meanwhile,theBureauofEconomicAnalysisreports thatinfrastructureproductivity—definedasoutput perworker-hourinconstruction—lagsfarbehind manufacturingandtechsectors.Delays,budget overruns,andmismanagementarecommon, highlightingtheurgentneedfordisciplinedproject oversight.
TheU.S.DepartmentofLaborfurtheridentifies skilledconstructionmanagersascriticalshortage occupations,particularlythosewithcapabilitiesin greenbuildingpractices,resilientdesign,andpublic sectorcompliance.Additionally,multilingual communicationisnolongera“softskill”buta workforcedifferentiator.
Over27millionU.S.workersspeak alanguageotherthanEnglishat home,arealitythatisespecially pronouncedinconstructionlabor markets.
GOVERNMENTANDINDUSTRY ALIGNMENT
TheBidenAdministration’s2022Federal SustainabilityPlanandtheWhiteHouseHousing SupplyActionPlanbothemphasizedthefederal goaltoboostaffordablehousingdevelopmentand infrastructurerepairsthroughenergy-efficientand sociallyinclusivemethods.ProgramsliketheLowIncomeHousingTaxCredit(LIHTC)and OpportunityZonessupportedthiseffortviapublicprivatepartnerships.Additionally,theNational ScienceFoundation(NSF)andtheNationalInstitute ofStandardsandTechnology(NIST)haveallocated researchfundstomaterialsscience,modular construction,andproductivitymodeling,allofwhich areintegraltoadvancedconstructionproject management.Atthesametime,theSBA’sHUBZone Programcontinuestoprovidefederalcontracting opportunitiestobusinessesinunderutilizedzones. Theseareasoftenlacktheprojectleadershipand engineeringtalentneededtocarryoutsuch projects.
AlthoughtheTrumpadministrationisoften associatedwithrestrictiveimmigrationpolicies,its approachtodomesticeconomicrevitalization, public-privateinfrastructurefinancing,and permittingreformcreatedseveralkeystructural pathwaysthatcontinuetobenefittheU.S. constructionandhousingsectors,especiallywhen leveragedbyhigh-skilled,multilingualengineering professionals.Perhapsthemosttransformative elementwasthecreationofOpportunityZones undertheTaxCutsandJobsActof2017.
Thesezonesincentivizedlong-termcapital investmentineconomicallydistressedcommunities throughpreferentialtaxtreatment.
Attheendof2020,over8,700zoneshad beendesignatedacrossall50states,Puerto Rico,andD.C.,directlyaligningwithfederal infrastructureandhousinggoals.
Thisinitiativecreatedfertilegroundforengineering entrepreneurs,especiallythosewithcross-border experienceandmulticulturalcommunication capabilities,tolaunchhousingandconstruction venturesinunderservedregions,attractequitycapital whilecontributingtolocaljobcreationandeconomic diversification,andprovidemultilingualsupportto immigrantlabormarketsanddiversecommunities withinthesezones.
TheTrumpadministration’sNEPAmodernization rules,introducedin2020,revisedtheNational EnvironmentalPolicyActtoshortenpermitting timelinesforlarge-scaleconstructionprojects.While controversialamongenvironmentaladvocates,this policyshift:spedupinfrastructuredelivery,especially fortransportation,housing,
andutility-scaleprojects;reducedcompliancedelays thatoftenburdensmallorminority-ownedengineering firms;andenabledengineeringleaderswithadvanced projectmanagementskillstocompletetime-sensitive workmoreefficiently.Formultilingualengineersand entrepreneursnavigatingfederal,state,andlocal permittingregimes,thisderegulationimprovedproject viabilityanddecreasedoverheadcosts,especiallyin HUBZonesandOpportunityZones.
WhiletheTrumpadministrationapproached infrastructureandimmigrationwithdifferent philosophicalviewsthanitssuccessor,itsstructural initiatives,especiallyOpportunityZones,permitting reform,andworkforcelocalization,helpedestablisha lastingecosystemwheremultilingualengineering leaderscanthrive.Theseprofessionals,workingin underservedmarketswithcomplexregulatory environmentsanddiverseworkforces,areuniquely positionedtoturnpolicygoalsintotangibleeconomic results.Inthatsense,theTrumpadministration’sactions canbeseennotonlyasregulatorymeasuresbutalsoas strategicenablersforhigh-skilledinfrastructure leadershiptodevelopwithinAmerica’sconstructionand housingsectors.
EXCLUSIVEINTERVIEWWITHDAM LUCIANODEJESUS
AspartofHumanCapital’songoingseriesonexecutive leadershipandindustrytransformation,Editor-in-Chief AnaPaulaMontanhaspeakswithDamLucianodeJesus, whooffersover15yearsofadvancedcivilengineering experience,bringingoverinsightsasaprominentvoice inU.S.infrastructurediscussions.Heholdsabachelor’s degreeincivilengineering,backedbytechnicalskillsin AutoCAD(2Dand3D),Revest,andExcel-based dashboardmodeling.
Hisacademicbackgroundisstrengthenedby extensivefieldworkinstructuraldesign,construction management,andregulatorycompliance,keyskills thatmeetthegrowingneedsforaffordablehousing developmentandurbanengineeringacrossthe UnitedStates.Hiscareershowcasesnotonlytechnical expertisebutalsoastrongdedicationtosustainable constructionpracticesanddata-drivenproject management.
Throughouthiscareer, DamLucianodeJesushas demonstratedanexceptionalabilitytomanage complex,high-stakesinfrastructureprojectsunder tighttimelinesandbudgets. Hehasplayedakeyrole indeliveringbothpublicandprivatedevelopments, includinggovernment-backedhousingprogramsand industrial-scalefacilities.Hisengineeringleadership encompassestheentireprojectlifecycle,frominitial designtoprojectcompletion,incorporating architecturalmodeling,siteassessment,material evaluation,andworkforcecoordination.His multidisciplinaryapproachensuresoperational efficiencywhilemeetingstrictsafety,quality,and environmentalstandards,makinghimavaluableasset inbothemergingandestablishedinfrastructure markets.
Hismostnotableachievementsincludedelivering180 affordablehousingunitsunderBrazil’sCDHU initiative,aprogramthatparallelsU.S.HUDobjectives inscaleandsocialimpact.Healsoledtheengineering andexecutionofatechnicallydemanding15-story structurebuiltonunstableterrain,coordinatinga workforceofover80personnelandsupervisingall phasesofstructural,drainage,andfoundational planning.
Theseaccomplishmentsnotonlyhighlighthis engineeringprowessbutalsoreflecthisabilitytolead multilingual,cross-functionalteamsinhigh-pressure environments.AstheU.S.scalesitsinfrastructure renewalandhousingequityefforts,Mr.deJesus’s globalperspective,provenleadership,andfluencyin Portuguese,English,andSpanishpositionhimasan indispensableexpertinaffordable,sustainable constructionleadership.
Basedonyourexperienceinbothpublicand privateinfrastructureprojects,whatdoyou considerthemostcriticalengineeringchallengein deliveringaffordablehousingatscaleinthe UnitedStatestoday?
Themostcriticalchallengeisbalancingcostefficiencywithregulatorycomplianceandbuilding quality.Affordablehousingneedstomeetstrictsafety andenvironmentalstandardswhileremaining financiallyfeasiblewithinconstrainedmunicipal budgets.Achievingthisbalancerequiresearly integrationofpreciseengineering,modulardesign, andsustainablematerials,supportedbydisciplined
projectmanagementpractices.
YourleadershipinBrazil’sCDHUhousing initiativereflectsmanyHUDprioritiesinthe U.S.Howhavethoseinternational experiencesshapedyourapproachtoproject deliveryandworkforcemanagementin Americanmarkets?
MyworkwithCDHUreinforcedtheimportanceof schedulediscipline,transparentbudgeting,and stronglaborcoordination.InbothBrazilandtheU.S., successdependsonunitingtechnicalteams,public partners,andcommunitystakeholdersaroundshared goals.Theseexperiencestaughtmehowtoleadwith clarity,especiallyinmulticulturalenvironmentswhere communicationmustbeprecise,respectful,and inclusive.
ConstructionprojectproductivityintheU.S. remainsoneoftheslowest-growingsectors acrossmajorindustries.Fromyour perspective,whatprojectmanagement methodsortechnologiesaremosteffectivein addressingdelays,budgetoverruns,andsite inefficiencies?
Usingreal-timedatadashboardsalongsidecritical pathschedulingtoolsgreatlyimprovesvisibilityinto budgetandschedulevariances.Ialsopromotelean constructionprinciples—eliminatingredundancy, standardizingworkflows,andempoweringfield-level accountability.Thesetoolshelpreducecommon wasteslikeidlelabor,misusedmaterials,and schedulingfragmentation.
Asatrilingualengineeringleaderfluentin Portuguese,English,andSpanish,howdoyou seemultilingualismimproving communication,safety,andcoordinationin multilinguallabormarketslikeFloridaand Texas?
Multilingualismenhanceseverypartofproject execution,fromsafetybriefingsonthejobsiteto negotiationswithsuppliersandmunicipalinspections. InstateslikeFloridaandTexas,whereimmigrantlabor isvital,linguisticfluencyboostsefficiencyandreduces risks.Italsobuildstrustamongteams,encouraging collaborationandlong-termretention.
Yourworkinvolvescomplexgeotechnical environmentsandhigh-riseconstruction.How doyoubalancetechnicaldesign,safety protocols,andcomplianceunderhighpressureconditionswhileleading multidisciplinaryteams?
Myapproachisbasedonproactiveplanning.We conductthoroughsiteanalyses,developredundant safetymeasures,andmaintainclearengineering documentationthroughouttheproject.Whenleading teams,Iemphasizeaccuracy,delegation,anddaily progresschecks.Thesestepshelpusmaintainsafety andstructuralintegritywithoutmissingschedule targets.
WithrecentU.S.federalinvestmentsthrough theInfrastructureInvestmentandJobsAct (IIJA)andtheSBA’sHUBZoneprogram,what opportunitiesexistforengineering entrepreneurstopromotedevelopmentin underservedregions?
Theseprogramsoffersignificantopportunitiesfor infrastructureentrepreneurs.TheIIJAcreateslongtermprojectpipelines,whiletheHUBZoneprogram givessmallfirmsacompetitiveedgeindistressed areas.Together,theyencouragejobcreationandlocal investment,especiallyincommunitiesthathave lackedaccesstotop-tierengineeringleadership.
OpportunityZoneswereakeypartofthe Trumpadministration’sinfrastructure financingplan.Howhaveyouincorporated theseorsimilartax-incentiveprograms into yourbusinessdevelopmentstrategyinthe U.S.?
OpportunityZoneshavebeencentraltoourgrowth plans.Weanalyzezone-specificdemographicdata, assessinfrastructuregaps,andproposeengineered projectmodelsalignedwithtaxandworkforce incentives.Thisstrategybenefitsinvestorswithlongtermreturnsandprovidestangibleinfrastructure improvementsforunderservedcommunities.
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Sustainabilityhasbecomeakeyfocusin housingandconstruction.Howhaveyou integratedgreenbuildingpracticesintoyour engineeringmodels,andhowdotheysupport long-termcommunityresilience?
Sustainabilityinfluencesourchoiceofmaterials, energymodeling,andwastemanagement.Weprefer low-VOCmaterials,water-efficientplumbing,and passivedesignfeaturesthatreduceoperational energy.Thesepracticeslowerlifetimecostsandalign withgovernmentsustainabilitygoals,whichare crucialforenhancingresilienceandensuringfunding eligibility.
Whatroledoyoubelievemultilingualcivil engineersandprojectmanagersplayin linkingglobalbestpracticeswithlocal infrastructureneedsintheU.S.?
Multilingualengineersactasbridgesbetween internationalinnovationandlocalimplementation. Theybringinsightsfromdiverseconstructionsystems andadaptthemtoU.S.regulationsandworkforce realities.Theirabilitytotranslatelanguage,technical standards,andculturalnormsiscrucialforsuccessful cross-borderprojectsandregionalgrowth.
Lookingahead,whatpolicyorworkforce developmentscouldmosthelpforeign-trained engineerscontributemoreeffectivelytothe U.S.infrastructureefforts?
Streamliningcredentialrecognitionwouldbeamajor stepforward.Manyforeign-trainedengineerspossess advancedskillsbutfacebarriersinlicensingand projectopportunities.Expandingpathwaysthat recognizeinternationalexperience,alongwith targetedworkforcegrants,wouldspeedtheir integrationandamplifytheirimpactonnational infrastructuredevelopment.
Interviewby AnaPaulaMontanha,Editor-in-Chief
LOOKINGFORWARD
AstheUnitedStatesconfrontsconvergingcrisesin affordablehousing,infrastructuremodernization,and workforcefragmentation,multilingualengineering leadersstandattheintersectionoftechnical innovationandsocioeconomicrelevance.Theirability toleadcomplexprojectsinlinguisticallyandculturally diversecommunitiesisnolongerperipheral—itis essential.Throughdisciplinedconstructionproject management,fluencyinmultiplelanguages,and cross-borderengineeringinsights,these professionalsacceleratenotonlyinfrastructure deliverybutalsoeconomicequity,localworkforce integration,andregulatorycomplianceacross underservedzones.
Thestrategicalignmentoffederalinvestment vehiclessuchastheIIJA,OpportunityZones,andthe HUBZoneprogramwithmultilingualcivilengineering capacitypresentsarareandurgentopportunity. Leveragingglobalengineeringtalent,suchasDam LucianodeJesus,willbecriticalinensuringthelongtermresilience,inclusivity,andefficiencyofAmerica’s builtenvironment.Federal,state,andprivate stakeholderswouldbenefitfrominstitutionalizing supportmechanismsthatreducebarriersforsuch experts,therebytranslatinginfrastructurepolicyinto measurablecommunityoutcomes.
REFERENCES
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CouncilonEnvironmentalQuality.(2020).Update totheRegulationsImplementingtheProcedural ProvisionsoftheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct. FederalRegister,85(137),43304–43376.
Retrievedfrom https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/0 7/16/2020-15179/update-to-the-regulationsimplementing-the-procedural-provisions-of-thenational-environmental
InternalRevenueService.(2020).OpportunityZones FrequentlyAskedQuestions.U.S.Departmentofthe Treasury.Retrievedfrom https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zonesfrequently-asked-questions
NationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology.(n.d.). Buildings&Construction.U.S.Departmentof Commerce.RetrievedJuly22,2025,from https://www.nist.gov/buildings-construction
NationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology.(n.d.). Infrastructure.U.S.DepartmentofCommerce. RetrievedJuly22,2025,from https://www.nist.gov/infrastructure
NationalScienceFoundation.(2023).Engineering ResearchandInfrastructureFundingPrograms. Retrievedfrom https://www.nsf.gov/funding/
SmallBusinessAdministration.(2023).HUBZone Program.Retrievedfrom https://www.sba.gov/federalcontracting/contracting-assistanceprograms/hubzone-program
U.S.CensusBureau.(2023).TheStateoftheNation’s Housing.Retrievedfrom https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs.html
U.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment. (2022).HousingSupplyActionPlan.Retrievedfrom https://www.hud.gov/hudprograms/housing-supplyaction-plan
WhiteHouse.(2021).FactSheet:TheBipartisan InfrastructureDeal.Retrievedfrom https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefingroom/statements-releases/2021/11/06/fact-sheetthe-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/
