Ramesh Gokaldas Sheth's Obituary
Ramesh Sheth, a highly esteemed engineer and dedicated public servant, passed away after a distinguished career spanning 35 years in federal service. He most recently served as the Engineering Functional Group Lead and Senior Engineer with the Standards and Training Office of the Mission Assurance Department at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), where he played a pivotal role in training and certifying engineers in support of the Joint Mission Assurance Assessments Program. He was a core instructor on the Mobile Training Team (MTT) and conducted rigorous technical reviews and training missions.
Mr. Sheth began his tenure with the Defense Special Weapons Agency (now DTRA) in 1997. Over nearly two decades at the agency, he completed more than 150 Joint Staff Integrated Vulnerability Assessments (JSIVA) and led over 75 training courses across U.S. Department of Defense sites and allied nations. His contributions earned him numerous accolades and commendations for excellence. Known for his technical acumen and humility, he was often handpicked for critical assignments, including high-priority blast analyses in Afghanistan, Iraq, and key U.S. infrastructure. He was also a respected voice in the Department of Defense Security Engineering Working Group (SEWG), where he influenced vital antiterrorism building standards worldwide.
Before joining DTRA, Mr. Sheth served with the Department of Veterans Affairs from 1980 to 1997, working first as a Structural Engineer and later as a Facility Engineer. He led the design and renovation of numerous multimillion-dollar VA hospital projects, particularly at the Birmingham, Alabama VA Medical Center.
Ramesh Sheth’s engineering journey began in India, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He immigrated to the United States in 1969, and worked with private consulting firms in New York and Washington, D.C., where he rose to Partner in Charge. He was a registered Professional Engineer in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Mr. Sheth was a devoted family man. He is lovingly remembered by his children Arpan and Nikita, and their children Shailen, Kalin, and Lara; and by Anish and Payal, and their children Ved and Veer. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jyotsna Sheth, and by his parents, Sri Gokuldas and Smt. Maniben Sheth. He is also predeceased by his siblings Hasmukh-bhai, Deepak-bhai, and Punji-ben.
Throughout his life, Ramesh Sheth exemplified professionalism, integrity, and service. His legacy endures in the countless structures he helped strengthen and the many engineers he mentored. He will be remembered with deep respect and admiration by colleagues, students, and the broader defense and engineering communities, and with profound love by his family.
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