Travis Marcus Joins CDM Smith as Data Centers Transformational Growth Leader
CDM Smith, a privately owned engineering and construction firm, has made a strategic addition to its leadership team with the appointment of Travis Marcus, PMP, as a principal and data centers transformational growth leader. Based in Fairfax, Virginia, Marcus brings an exceptional depth of experience that positions CDM Smith to accelerate its footprint in the rapidly expanding data center sector.
With 27 years of experience leading hyperscale and mission-critical infrastructure, Marcus has operated at the highest levels of classified and sovereign cloud environments. His career spans end-to-end responsibility for some of the most technically demanding data center programs in the country, including air-gapped and sovereign cloud regions serving national security needs.
In his new role, Marcus will support CDM Smith's industrial clients while driving the firm's strategic expansion across the data center sector — a market under immense pressure from the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, machine learning workloads, and the corresponding demand for power and water infrastructure.
"What excites me most about this role is bringing together engineering rigor, innovative design and commercial strategy to deliver infrastructure that is not only reliable and efficient, but also future-ready for emerging AI-driven demands. Data centers are no longer just facilities; they are the backbone of intelligent systems shaping every industry."
— Travis Marcus, PMP, Data Centers Transformational Growth Leader, CDM Smith
A Career Built on Mission-Critical Excellence
Prior to joining CDM Smith, Marcus held a senior leadership position overseeing national security data centers, where he served as the executive owner of classified hyperscale data center regions. His accountability spanned full profit and loss management, long-term capacity planning, financial performance, and operational reliability across air-gapped and sovereign cloud environments — among the most stringent infrastructure settings in the industry.
Before that, Marcus served as a senior infrastructure executive with end-to-end responsibility for the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of mission-critical data centers. This breadth of hands-on experience — spanning strategy, delivery, and sustained operations — is precisely what CDM Smith's clients need as they navigate increasingly complex power and water constraints in their own data center programs.
Career Highlights
Academic Background & Professional Credentials
Marcus holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from South Carolina State University and a master's degree in transportation and systems engineering from Morgan State University. He is a registered Project Management Professional (PMP) — a credential that reflects his disciplined, delivery-focused approach to complex infrastructure programs.
Beyond his technical qualifications, Marcus is a Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellow, a distinction awarded to exceptional leaders with a demonstrated commitment to public service and national progress. He is also a member of the American Society for Industrial Security and the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA), underscoring deep ties to the security and defense infrastructure communities.
CDM Smith's Data Center Portfolio
Water Infrastructure & Management
CDM Smith helps data centers secure, treat, and reuse water efficiently — addressing one of the sector's most critical sustainability constraints through potable and non-potable supply systems and advanced treatment strategies.
Full-Service Power Solutions
From site assessments to substation design and construction, the firm delivers comprehensive power solutions that keep data center clients ahead of capacity challenges and grid constraints before they become project blockers.
Integrated Design-Build / EPC Delivery
CDM Smith's integrated design-build and EPC delivery method enables swift, efficient project completion — helping data center operators reach market faster while maintaining the performance and reliability standards that hyperscale environments demand.
"We're excited to have Travis join the team. He brings firsthand experience leading hyperscale and mission critical data center programs at scale, and he understands what it takes to plan capacity, deliver critical infrastructure, and keep facilities operating reliably over the long term. That experience helps our clients get ahead of power and water constraints early, so projects stay on schedule and facilities perform as intended."
— Michael Healy, Sales Director, CDM Smith
Travis Marcus, PMP, has joined CDM Smith as a principal and data centers transformational growth leader, based in Fairfax, Virginia.
Marcus brings 27 years of experience in hyperscale, mission-critical, and classified sovereign cloud data center environments — including full P&L ownership and long-term capacity planning.
His mandate is to support CDM Smith's industrial clients and expand the firm's portfolio in the data center sector, particularly as AI-driven demand puts growing pressure on power and water resources.
Marcus is a Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellow, a registered PMP, and holds engineering degrees from South Carolina State University and Morgan State University.
CDM Smith's integrated capabilities in water management, power solutions, and design-build delivery make it uniquely positioned to address the infrastructure challenges facing today's data center operators.
The appointment of Travis Marcus signals CDM Smith's deliberate and strategic push into one of the most competitive growth sectors in engineering and construction. As hyperscale data centers become the foundational infrastructure for artificial intelligence, sovereign computing, and national security applications, the demand for leaders who have operated at the intersection of classified environments, engineering rigor, and commercial accountability is at an all-time high. Marcus fits that profile with precision.
For organizations planning their next generation of data center infrastructure, CDM Smith's expanding capabilities — now strengthened by Marcus's expertise — offer a compelling partner. Learn more about CDM Smith and its data center solutions at cdmsmith.com.