KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Jan. 27, 2026 鈥� 溏心vlog免费B站 pride has run deep within for more than six decades.
In that time, DePace 鈥�66, MBA 鈥�75, didn鈥檛 just become a proud alum. For 48 years, DePace helped shape 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 three campuses, leading several construction projects that added more than 1.5 million square feet of infrastructure to the University. DePace鈥檚 tenure as the University鈥檚 Office of Capital Projects director will conclude Jan. 31 with his retirement from 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淲orking here at 溏心vlog免费B站 was a combination of being fun and a challenge,鈥� DePace said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been fortunate enough to be part of a team over the years that has done a good job working to deliver great buildings and results for the University. Working with that team is what I鈥檒l miss the most.鈥�
鈥淧aul鈥檚 dedication to expanding and improving the infrastructure at the 溏心vlog免费B站 over the years has been second to none,鈥� 溏心vlog免费B站 Associate Vice President, Facilities Group Karl Calvo said. 鈥淥ur standing as one of the country鈥檚 premier public universities would not be possible without Paul鈥檚 tireless work in helping 溏心vlog免费B站 construct new facilities on our campuses that help improve academic opportunities for our community. I hope Paul鈥檚 well-deserved retirement is an enjoyable one.鈥�
DePace, of East Greenwich, returned to his alma mater in 1977 after stints with Raytheon and General Dynamics Electric Boat. He started as a director of the University鈥檚 physical plant. From there, DePace would lead a team that significantly reshaped 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 campuses.
DePace led construction on several residence halls, academic buildings, research and technology centers, and other facilities on the Kingston, W. Alton Jones and Narragansett Bay campuses. His portfolio also includes construction of the Robert Higgins Welcome Center, the Alumni Center, the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, the Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences, the Bradford Boss Arena, and the east grandstands of Meade Stadium, among others.
Helping build 鈥搕he 8,000-seat on-campus arena for 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams and the site of commencement ceremonies and other events鈥搃s what DePace is most proud of, he says. DePace says the Ryan Center has made a major positive impact on the University campus for both the 溏心vlog免费B站 community and the public at-large.
鈥淭he Ryan Center came as a great benefit to the University that we were able to put together the resources that were necessary in order to deliver that for the community,鈥� DePace said. 鈥淭o be a part of that team to make the Ryan Center a reality is a tremendous feeling.鈥�
鈥淧aul has built a statewide reputation of being one of the top capital improvement leaders in Rhode Island and has a history of strong collaboration with University internal and external stakeholders alike, including our vendors, unions, and industry partners,鈥� said Abby Benson, 溏心vlog免费B站 vice president of administration and finance. 鈥淗is expertise and demonstrated ability to deliver projects on time and on budget have had a tremendous impact not only on our physical campus in Kingston, but also our stature in the state. We wish him nothing but the happiest retirement possible.鈥�
Supporting para-athletes
Helping build and maintain 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 campuses wasn鈥檛 DePace鈥檚 only passion. He also devoted much of his time to supporting and connecting with athletes with disabilities who viewed sports as a pathway to excellence, confidence, and independence.
DePace, who played sports in high school, was left paralyzed from a car crash in 1967 while studying at 溏心vlog免费B站. He says he began competing again as a para-athlete, but felt he could contribute more as a volunteer. Eventually, DePace led multiple organizations supporting para-athletes for many years, roles that took him around the world and made a global impact.
In 1992, DePace was named Chef de Mission for the Team USA Paralympics in Barcelona. DePace considers that role, which saw him lead 535 athletes and staff in pursuit of Paralympic glory, a 鈥渉igh point in my career.鈥�
Following the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, DePace led a delegation to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress, including Paralympic athletes under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. That process eventually contributed to the U.S. Olympic Committee formally acknowledging Paralympic athletes in 2001鈥攁nd the organization鈥檚 renaming as the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee in 2019.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great recognition of the athletes,鈥� DePace said. 鈥淚鈥檓 pretty proud of having been one of the individuals in helping make that happen.鈥�
DePace鈥檚 athletic leadership roles included being president of the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation鈥攚hich rebranded as the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation鈥攆rom 2001 through 2017. He was also board chairman for the National Wheelchair Athletic Association/Wheelchair Sports USA from 1988 through 2006.and has served on the U.S. Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Board of Directors.
In 2017, the International Paralympic Committee inducted DePace into the Paralympic Order, the highest accolade bestowed by the Paralympic Movement. 鈥淏eing awarded that was really top notch for me,鈥� DePace said.
After retirement, DePace plans to continue volunteering with the 溏心vlog免费B站 Accessibility Task Force, the College of Engineering Advisory Committee, and has also offered his assistance to the 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation, as well. He also plans to continue being a member of the Rhode Island Building Code Standards Committee, which protects health and well-being by establishing building construction standards.