A Career Rooted in Service
May 2, 2024
Over a 30-year career, culminating in being a founding partner at J2, Jeff Gilliland remains an engineer in its truest sense – he enjoys getting hands-on with his projects and solving complex problems while equally relishing his role running the business. This dual expertise in engineering and operations has been instrumental in propelling his passion for the industry, its people, and the transformative work they do.
At J2, a multi-discipline engineering firm specializing in land planning, civil engineering, transportation design, landscape architecture, and surveying, Jeff’s strategic vision has expanded the firm to over 70 professionals across five Virginia offices, all while nurturing the distinctive culture of J2. He has gained an appreciation for the impact his work has had on the community and how it has helped shape infrastructure and development in Virginia and beyond.
Making an Engineer
A serendipitous comment from his high school chemistry teacher, ‘you’d be a good engineer,’ sparked Jeff’s interest in the field of engineering. His curiosity piqued, he enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Citing his alma mater as the beginning of his exploration into problem-solving, Jeff relied heavily on many lessons learned while in school for developing his singular approach to land development work. He gained invaluable experience while active in multiple academic ventures and by serving as a
leader in Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, but the classroom served as the grassroots for all of Jeff’s land development projects to date. “The classroom prepared me from a technical standpoint and the fraternity experience helped me learn how to effectively work and collaborate with people,” he said.
Post-graduation, Jeff set about making his mark with projects such as South Riding, Lansdowne, and Stone Ridge. His most notable project, the expansive South Riding mixed-use development, spanned over 2,000 acres and took more than a decade to complete. This project served as a practical lesson in the holistic approach to land planning—considering the intricate interplay of various project facets from inception to completion.
Giving Back
”Jeff continually impresses me with how generous he is with his time for the betterment of the next generation of civil engineers. He demonstrates this not only through his long-time involvement in LDDI
Board leadership and committee service, but also through the recurring hands-on interactions he facilitates with Virginia Tech students.” Claire M. White, PE, ENV SP, Associate Professor of Practice, Assistant Coordinator – LDDI and former LDDI mentee under Jeff’s instruction.
”Jeff’s leadership has been instrumental in my career. Having him as a mentor of my LDDI design group really solidified my future career aspirations of being a civil engineer.” - Michael Guarrasi, PE, Project Engineer
A key focus of Jeff’s immersion into the world of engineering is a steadfast commitment to building up the future generation of engineering leaders. As a firm principal, he is a mentor both at J2 and in the community, assuring that his passion for land development design carries on.
Furthering his personal mission, Jeff is a charter member of Virginia Tech’s Land Development Design Initiative (LDDI), a group he has been involved with for 16 years since its inception. Serving on the advisory board and as the longest-standing mentor in the LDDI, he leads senior students in a year-long, intensive project, providing both project manager and client perspectives.
Jeff has mentored over 75 students to date including current J2 project engineer Michael Guarrasi who was a mentee in an LDDI group he led. “Having Jeff as a mentor in the LDDI class at Virginia Tech was incredibly beneficial. He was so helpful with the technical side of the project we worked on, but he was also very adept at explaining the ‘why’ behind certain design aspects and providing the bigger picture which is so important,” said Guarrasi.
Jeff continues to provide guidance to J2’s professionals whenever he is needed. “He has helped set the goals and standards of the firm and I know that if I ever have a design problem come up, he will gladly work with me to find a solution and make sure that I understand his line of thinking to implement said solution,” Guarrasi added.
In late 2021, as an homage to a beloved professor, Jeff and fellow alumni members of the Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Chapter and Sigma Omega Tau formed The Robert E. Benoit Distinguished Lectureship in Biological Sciences in memory of their former advisor, Dr. Robert E. Benoit, associate professor emeritus of biological sciences at Virginia Tech. The foundation annually funds a guest expert lecturer who details their contributions to the field of biological science.
“Doc Benoit shared so much great insight that helped me grow as a person and an aspiring leader. He always expressed that I had what it took to deal with a variety of situations and he gave me nuggets of wisdom that instilled even more confidence,” he said.
A Career Marked by Recognition
Jeff has received accolades over the last 37 years ranging from high-profile, award-winning projects to recognition by the Engineers
Jeff Gilliland inducted into Virginia Tech CEE Academy of Distinguished Alumni March 28, 2024.& Surveyors Institute for career-spanning contributions to the industry overall. He is the 2023 recipient of the Hokie Stone Award from Virginia Tech’s Land Development Design Initiative and is the most recent inductee into the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni. This award recognizes accomplishments in the community and civil engineering profession, and a commitment to the Department, the College of Engineering, and the University of Virginia.
“I’ve had an opportunity to impact people’s lives with the work I do on each project. I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni. I feel that it recognizes the things that I have done to make a positive impact on the people designing our built environment,” said Jeff.
LDDI’s program coordinator, Kevin D. Young, PE, ENV SP, MASCE, acknowledges the ongoing, pivotal role Jeff has had on the program, “Jeff is a natural mentor, and watching him patiently work with young engineers is a source of daily motivation for me in my role as a professor. Whether it’s mentoring a student design team, directing a value engineering workshop, or leading an onsite field trip, Jeff’s enthusiasm for engineering is contagious.”
Jeff also serves the University as a guest lecturer on site grading and advises students on how to develop a viable career path while having an understanding of how to prepare for future leadership/management roles. Many of his recent exchanges with students center on the importance of professional development at early career stages.
“Jeff is a role model to students in balancing strong technical skills with personal skills, and many of his recent meetings with students have focused on the importance of professional development even at early career stages. I am
one of the countless students, now industry professionals, who have directly benefited from Jeff’s mentorship through the years,” said Claire M. White, PE, ENV SP, Associate Professor of Practice, Assistant Coordinator – LDDI.
Jeff’s commitment to community doesn’t end in the classroom. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum and as a marathon runner, he has run multiple races as a charity runner raising funds for Autism Speaks to bring increased awareness. He counts among his many accomplishments a wonderful marriage to his high school sweetheart; successfully raising three children; and a passion for engineering that he gets to live every day. With 17 marathons under his belt, he admits his secret guilty pleasure is that Monday nights are World Wrestling Entertainment nights in the Gilliland household!
Jeff with his wife, son, and two daughters at Animal Kingdom in Disney World.
Jeff has participated in numerous races, raising funds for Autism Speaks as a dedicated charity runner.