Delaware Tech Honors Javier G. Torrijos for Hispanic Heritage Month

On Wednesday, November 11, Delaware Technical Community College's Stanton and Wilmington campuses honored engineer and advocate Javier G. Torrijos for his commitment to the Hispanic community and culture in northern Delaware at its 11th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Honoree Celebration.

Due to the pandemic, the event was held with a small group and streamed virtually. View the event.

A number of dignitaries recognized Mr. Torrijos for his service, including Governor John Carney, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer who declared November 11, 2020, to be Javier Torrijos Day in New Castle County.

Javier Gilberto Torrijos, PE, is a registered professional engineer in the state of Delaware with over 30 years of experience in roadway and bridge construction management. He is the founder and owner of TORREngineering LLC, a Hispanic minority disadvantaged engineering consulting firm.

Previously, Mr. Torrijos was the assistant director of construction for DelDOT, and he is a member of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) First State Chapter and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). He received his bachelor of science in civil engineering from Drexel University in 1987. Some of his notable projects in Delaware include the construction of US 301, the construction of the SR1 expressway, I-95 fifth lane widening, I-95 Newark Toll Plaza high speed E-Z pass lane improvements, I-95/SR1 interchange construction, and I-495 emergency bridge repairs.

Mr. Torrijos is an active volunteer, serving on the Delaware Hispanic Commission since its inception by then-Governor Jack Markell in September of 2011. In late 2012, he was named the chairman of the Delaware Hispanic Commission. In 2013, he received the Latin American Community Center's Distinguished Hispanic Delawarean Award, and in 2016 he received the "Estrella" award from the Delaware Hispanic Awards. He served on then-Governor Markell's task force for the Driving Privilege Card in 2014/2015 and helped advocate for the passing of the Driving Privilege Card in 2015.

Mr. Torrijos continues to advocate for English learner-equitable education and funding; he sat on the steering committee for the Department of Education's English Learner Strategic Plan Guiding Coalition, and in 2018 he was named the co-chair of Governor Carney's English Learner Advisory Council. He is a member of the Vision Coalition of Delaware leadership team and was a member of the Wilmington Area Planning Council Public Advisory Committee from 2016-2018.

Mr. Torrijos believes in serving and building communities, and has volunteered for various non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Amazing Grace, and Team Upward.

Mr. Torrijos lives in Delaware with his wife of 35 years, Deborah, who has her own company, Expressions from the Heart, which provides professional language services for the Deaf, Hispanic, Deaf-Latino and French/Haitian communities. They have two children, Natanael and Jose, and three grandchildren: Daniel, Eliana, and Isabella.