DBIA is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Walker Lee Evey, a visionary leader whose influence helped shape the trajectory of our organization and the broader design-build industry.
Evey served as DBIA’s President and CEO from 2004 to 2009, stepping into the role at a pivotal time in our history. With a wealth of industry expertise and a passion for collaboration, he reinvigorated DBIA at a time when design-build was not broadly accepted. His leadership and firsthand experience with design-build delivery helped position the organization as the leading authority and advocate for design-build project delivery nationwide.
“Lee was a visionary, a servant-leader and a steadfast believer in the people around him,” reflected Lisa Washington, CAE, DBIA Executive Director and CEO. “While his vision shaped DBIA and the design-build industry, it was his humility, strength and unwavering faith in others that truly defined his legacy. He was my mentor, my champion and my friend, and I am forever grateful for the years we worked side by side.”
Throughout his career, Evey was a champion of innovation in construction. He believed deeply in the power of collaboration and was known for promoting effective teaming and partnership strategies that improved project outcomes across the industry.
Before joining DBIA, Evey was a senior vice president at 3D/International, a design, management and construction firm. During his time there, he took a leave of absence to serve as a senior advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Housing and Construction in Baghdad, where he supported post-war rebuilding efforts.
Earlier, Evey played a critical role in the Pentagon Renovation Program, one of the most significant federal projects of its time. As program manager for the 10-year, $4 billion effort, he reported directly to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, overseeing a massive transformation that finished $100 million under budget and 14 months ahead of schedule. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Evey also led the Phoenix Project, the extraordinary effort to rebuild the damaged sections of the Pentagon. Upholding a promise made publicly, he and his team completed the project in just one year — a feat that remains a powerful testament to his leadership and determination. The Phoenix Project served as a model for what would become DBIA’s Owners Series of education, further demonstrating Evey’s impact on the organization and the industry.
His federal service also included senior roles at NASA and as the top civilian contracting official for the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon. Evey began his career in uniform, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1966 and serving with distinction as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Commander in Vietnam.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Evey earned numerous accolades, including DBIA’s Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award and induction into the National Academy of Construction, which recognized his commitment to advancing modern project management and delivery practices.
Even in retirement, Evey remained engaged in the industry, frequently speaking at conferences and sharing his insights. In his spare time, he also authored Original Sin, a Civil War-era fictional action thriller.
“While our hearts are heavy with his loss, Lee’s impact will continue to live on in the work we do and the lives he helped shape,” said Washington.
