Over the past two decades, Bob Bea has played a major role in assisting the MMS in efforts to develop and verify technologies to improve safety, efficiency and environmental concerns relative to offshore oil and gas developments.

Professor Bea provided considerable guidance on tension pile technology for tension leg platforms and what research was needed. During the period from 1981 to 1989, he managed several major joint industry projects initiated by the MMS to address the Requalification of aging or damaged offshore platforms. He was very active in assessing the effects of Hurricane Andrew on Gulf of Mexico offshore facilities. Additionally, he assisted the MMS with the International Workshop on the Seismic Design and Reassessment of Offshore Structures.

Professor Bea's more recent activities include organizing the International Workshop for the Assessment and Requalification of Offshore Production Facilities. This workshop affected the way in which the MMS and industry assess the integrity of aging or damaged platforms and formed the basis for the current American Petroleum Institute (API) requirements. He has also been active in helping the MMS assess the role of human and organizational factors in offshore safety as well as developing guidelines to assess the integrity of existing pipeline systems.

Professor Bea's initiative, zeal, sound engineering judgement and devotion to his profession reflect positively not only on himself but also on the MMS.