Forrest J. Masters, Ph.D., P.E. (FL), is the Kearney Dean of Engineering. Masters previously served as interim dean of engineering at the University of Florida and held multiple leadership positions throughout his career. He founded one of seven natural hazards engineering research facilities in the same National Science Foundation program that supports the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory, housed at Oregon State. While at Florida, he also served as associate dean for research and facilities and led strategic initiatives in the Office of Research as an assistant vice president.

Masters earned his Ph.D. in structural engineering at UF in 2004. Before serving in leadership roles at UF, Masters held the position of professor of civil and coastal engineering. His research has focused on the effects of extreme weather on the built and natural environments, supported by field reconnaissance in storms, including the deployment of instrumentation in the path of hurricanes until landfall. He has received support from more than 40 grants from state, federal, and private sources, including the NSF CAREER Award. He has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and given more than 100 invited presentations.