Dan Wittliff

November 24, 1949 – October 13, 2025

Dan J. Wittliff passed away on Monday, October 13, 2025. He was 75 years old. His passing leaves a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and the many people whose lives he touched throughout his life and career. He was born November 24, 1949 (Thanksgiving Day) to Joe C. and Sally M. Wittliff in Nueces County, Texas. He graduated from Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas. And graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1972 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Most recently, Dan was Managing Director of Environmental Services with GDS Associates, in Marietta, Georgia. He was a licensed a professional engineer in Texas, Tennessee and South Carolina. Prior to joining GDS, he was principal of Dan Wittliff Consulting, PLLC. From 1995 -1999, Dan served as the first Chief Engineer to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC now TCEQ). Prior to TNRCC, Dan served for 14 years in several supervisory positions with West Texas Utilities Company, Abilene, TX.

Dan retired in 2002 from the United States Air Force at the rank of Colonel. His active duty career included a stint as the commander of communications organization on a mountaintop in Central Turkey. His military awards and distinctions include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Outstanding Graduate of Air War College, and the Air Force Communications-Electronics Professionalism Award.

Since joining National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in 1972, Dan served in various leadership positions. He was made a Fellow of NSPE in 2004. The NSPE House of Delegates elected Dan as President in 2012-13. He the only person to receive three NSPE President’s Awards (2010, 2016, and 2018). In 2017, Dan was awarded the NSPE Award, the society’s highest honor for “outstanding contributions to the engineering profession, the public welfare and humankind.”

Dan never forgot the value and impact of the education he received at SMU. In January, 2017, he and his wife established the Dan J. Wittliff and Manda L. Rash Endowed Engineering Leadership and Professional Development Fund within the Lyle School of Engineering. In May 2017, Dan was approved to serve on the Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board. In 2018, he was appointed to the Board of Industrial Advisors for the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Dan was predeceased by his parents Joe C. and Sally M. Wittliff and his brother, David Wittliff. He is survived by his wife of 27 years Manda Rash, his son Matthew Wittliff and his wife Lisa and their sons Zachary, Mark and Luke. Also survived by his daughter Juliana Taylor and her husband Robert and their son, Levi. In addition, Dan is survived by his brother Dick Wittliff and his wife Mary, his sister Debbie Nedpodzany and her husband Kevin, and his brother Derek and his wife Diane. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

To honor Dan’s memory, donations can be made to the Dan J. Wittliff and Manda L. Rash Endowed Engineering Leadership and Professional Development Fund at SMU at PO Box 750402-0402, Dallas, Texas 75275. Checks should be made out to SMU. Please include the name of the Endowment on your check or on an enclosed note.

Dan’s Celebration of Life will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin on Sunday, November 16 at 1:00 p.m.

Expressions of condolences and sympathy can be sent to the family by going to the dignity memorial website.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/dan-wittliff-12557821