Meet Carlos J. Obando of Gilbert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos J. Obando.

Hi Carlos J., it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey began in Colombia, where I earned my B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Nariño University and my M.Sc. from Los Andes University. My early professional life was deeply involved in managing significant infrastructure projects, contributing to roadway and petroleum-sector infrastructure, and even designing a major roadway network for a port expansion in Buenaventura.
As a Project Coordinator/Controller for Development in Engineering (DIN S.A.), I managed roadway and pavement design and maintenance programs with multidisciplinary teams. Parallel to this, I held academic roles as a Lecturer at different universities teaching subjects like Pavement Design, Road Infrastructure, and Project Management. A pivotal move was transitioning into a director role for the Civil Engineering Department, where I led department accreditation and curriculum development.
Driven by a pursuit of advanced knowledge, I became a Fulbright Scholar and moved to the United States to earn my Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering (Transportation) from Arizona State University (ASU). While at ASU, I served as a Graduate Research/Teaching Associate, researching sustainable materials for roadway systems and teaching Civil Engineering Materials labs.
My expertise continued to deepen with a Postdoctoral Research Scholar position at ASU (Jun 2022 – Jun 2023), where I developed advanced pavement materials to improve durability and reduce lifecycle costs. I simultaneously served as a Senior Project Engineer at Lemoy Constructions LLC, directing infrastructure projects and managing budgets.
I am proud to be back in the U.S. as a permanent resident since September 2025. Today, I have arrived as a lead in the field, leveraging 15+ years of experience in pavement management, transportation infrastructure, and project leadership. I currently hold parallel roles:
• I am again a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Arizona State University.
• I am the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Aerogel Coating Technologies (aCT Inc.), where I lead the field validation and R&D of sustainable infrastructure materials.
My journey is marked by significant and recent contributions, including 20+ peer-reviewed publications, a U.S. Patent, 2 patent pending, and several awards, including the 2023 Global Road Achievement Award by the International Road Federation (IRF). I also recently received the best Innovation award by the Rubberized Asphalt Rubber Association (RAR) in Lisbon, Portugal, in October 2025.
As an entrepreneur, I am the co-founder of Aerogel Coating Technologies, an ASU spin-off company whose foundation is based on the patents I received as a product of my Doctoral and Postdoctoral experiences. Currently, I am developing cutting-edge materials for smart infrastructure using reused and recycled materials. My goal is to push aCT as a visionary company developing, promoting, and implementing new materials for the future.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
That’s a powerful addition, highlighting the personal sacrifice required for entrepreneurial success. Here is the revised paragraph, integrating the challenge of self-funding your innovative work:

The journey was profoundly challenging, requiring constant adaptation across different cultures and professional domains, made even more difficult by personal responsibilities and the pressures of entrepreneurship. A primary hurdle was the transition from Colombian project leadership to the highly specialized U.S. Ph.D. research environment at ASU, a move complicated by simultaneously relocating with my wife Natalia and my son Samuel. The rigor of this period was compounded by the arrival of our second son, Rafael, during my Ph.D. studies, demanding exceptional focus to balance academic duties with family care. Later, the path was marked by the intense, dual-focused pressure of translating patented academic materials into commercially viable infrastructure products as the CTO of an ASU spin-off (aCT Inc.). Critically, the struggle included the difficulty of securing initial external funding in the risk-averse infrastructure sector, meaning that, fortunately, self-sacrifice and dedication were required to fund the company’s foundation based on my research and ideas, all while overcoming technical R&D failures and significant market resistance.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an innovative Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and a leading Transportation Infrastructure Specialist with over 15 years of experience bridging advanced materials science with practical engineering and project leadership.

My core specialization is in sustainable pavement management and smart infrastructure materials. Specifically, I leverage my Ph.D. research to develop, validate, and commercialize next-generation roadway systems built using reused and recycled materials. I am known for my ability to transform complex academic research—evidenced by 1 U.S. Patent and 2 patents pending—into tangible products that reduce lifecycle costs and improve durability. My work is recognized internationally, notably through the Global Road Achievement Award by the IRF.

What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my resilience and entrepreneurial success in establishing Aerogel Coating Technologies (aCT Inc.). It represents the culmination of my academic and professional journey. To have taken proprietary research and, through personal sacrifice and dedication—including overcoming major challenges like relocating my family and self-funding the initial stages—founded an ASU spin-off is deeply rewarding. This venture allows me to lead the field validation of my own materials, fundamentally pushing aCT as a visionary company actively implementing the future of sustainable infrastructure.

What sets you apart from others?
What truly sets me apart is my unique blend of deep global engineering experience and cutting-edge material science expertise, powered by a relentless out-of-the-box thinking approach.

Academic Innovator & Practical Leader: I am one of the few individuals who has not only earned a Ph.D. and directed an academic department but also simultaneously holds the position of CTO, actively leading the commercialization of my own patented technology. I don’t just research sustainable materials; I build the business model and direct the implementation of the final product.

Global Perspective and Adaptability: My foundational experience managing significant infrastructure in Colombia provided the practical, large-scale project management skills, while my Fulbright journey gave me the world-class research acumen. This resilience to adapt and accept complex global challenges makes me uniquely equipped to approach and solve complex engineering problematics creatively.

Self-Funded Validation: My commitment to my ideas led me to self-fund the initial stages of aCT Inc., demonstrating a profound belief, sacrifice, and dedication that goes beyond typical professional commitment. This shows I am an owner of solutions, not just an executor of tasks.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up in Colombia, I was characterized by intense curiosity and a highly analytical mind. I was the child who always needed to know how things worked, and this foundational curiosity evolved into a powerful problem-solving instinct, always drawn to complex challenges requiring an “out-of-the-box” approach.

Personality & Interests:
Socially, I was naturally outgoing and enjoyed playing with my friends, where I always tried to be the leader, organizing the games and setting the rules—a clear indication of my later project management and department leadership roles. Academically, I was a very good student and actively participated in different school activities, demonstrating a broad engagement and high standards from an early age. Beyond the classroom, I was an active athlete, practicing different sports such as volleyball, football (soccer), and basketball, which instilled early lessons in teamwork, discipline, and strategic play. My interests were primarily focused on building and design, with a fascination for logistics and structure that ultimately led me to pursue Civil Engineering, setting the foundation for the resilient, driven, and innovative professional I am today.

Pricing:

• Fulbright Scholar
• 2023-The Global Road Achievement Award (Research) by the IRF
• 2025-Best Innovation award by the Rubberized Asphalt Rubber Association (RAR)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://actinc-us.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-j-obdo/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iccobando