Rich Millet is a seasoned water resources and dam engineering leader with six decades of experience guiding major infrastructure projects across the United States. Early in his career, he played a central role in dam, surface water and reservoir development along the East Coast before becoming one of the principal design engineers for Metropolitan Water District’s Diamond Valley Reservoir. This is a landmark $2-billion off-stream storage project that transformed an empty valley into a fully operational reservoir in under five years and established critical water supply redundancy for Southern California.

Rich later led the California Department of Water Resources’ Urban and Non-Urban Levee Evaluation Program, a nine-year forensic assessment of roughly 1,300 miles of levees throughout Central Valley, California. The effort produced a comprehensive risk categorization system and helped spur nearly $4 billion in subsequent levee improvements, significantly reducing statewide flood risk to population and infrastructure. Over his long tenure with ArchTam and its legacy firms, Rich has also held senior leadership roles, including principal, Bay Area office manager, Denver office manager, Board of Directors member, and Chief Practice Officer before transitioning into his current role as a senior consultant. Today he mentors and advises staff across multiple active water and dam related projects, providing senior technical review, guidance and support. This February, he celebrated an extraordinary milestone: 60 years with ArchTam.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I was always good at math and science, and as I was finishing high school, I found myself torn between two very different paths. I had a physical education teacher in grammar school who made a great impression on me, and for a while I thought becoming a gym teacher would be a meaningful and rewarding career. I’ve always been athletic, so the idea of working with kids and staying active really appealed to me.

At the same time, my brother-in-law was a civil engineer, and I was drawn to the idea of working outdoors and not being tied to a desk. I ended up choosing engineering, probably with a little encouragement from my parents, and went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which is a strong engineering school in Troy, New York. During my time there, I joined ROTC, was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers and spent two years at the Army Engineer School at Fort Belvoir teaching basic engineering courses.

After completing my service, I knew I wanted to focus on geotechnical engineering rather than structural or transportation work. That led me to Woodward Clyde, which was one of the top geotechnical firms in the country at the time. I applied and was hired into the New York–New Jersey operations. From there, my water resources career really took off.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

My favorite ArchTam project is definitely Urban Levee Evaluation (ULE) and Non-Urban Levee Evaluation (NULE). The project was a nine-year effort, and the sheer scale was incredible. At any given time, we had about twenty to twenty-five inhouse staff working on the project, supported by four or five primary consulting firms and another twenty or so secondary firms, including environmental support teams, surveyors, labs and drilling companies. It really had everything in it, and it was extremely rewarding. One of the biggest accomplishments on this project was developing resources and databases that are still used today. We prepared a handbook for the state that continues to guide consultants working on levee projects in California and beyond. We also created a cost estimating tool, a simplified design flow chart for remediation, and a suite of technical and resource documents that have had long-lasting value. Knowing that these tools are still in use is something I’m very proud of.

Over 60 years, I’ve had the chance to work on a lot of great projects, but this one stands out not just because it was recent, but because of how immersive and complex it was. Nine years is a long time to be involved in a single effort. At times, it felt like a complex balancing act, but it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

Tell us about your work with cutoff walls and how that became your area of expertise.

I first became involved with cutoff walls in the early 1970s when the technology was still very new. A former Woodward Clyde principal introduced the concept to me. At the time, we had a client building a series of reservoirs that needed a reliable way to control seepage beneath their dams. The idea of creating a vertical, low permeability barrier in the ground to block water flow was innovative for that period, and I was immediately intrigued. We designed and constructed our first cutoff wall for one of their smaller dams, and its success led to several more dams and cutoff wall systems being constructed for that same client. That early exposure put me at the forefront of the technology long before it became commonplace. Over the years, I have authored award-winning technical papers and helped shape technical specifications that are still referenced now. To date, I have participated in over 50 cutoff wall projects with depths reaching 145 feet.

Since then, cutoff walls have remained a consistent and specialized part of my career, particularly for dams and levees where seepage control is critical to public safety. I often get called to support teams across ArchTam on technical decisions, design approaches and constructability questions. I also serve on two national technical panels through the Deep Foundations Institute and the United States Committee on Large Dams, helping advance best practices for soil bentonite and related wall systems. Today, I continue to work on major cutoff wall projects, including deep installations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Natomas Basin near Sacramento. After more than fifty years in this field, cutoff walls have become one of the areas where I bring deep, practical experience — especially valuable for complex dam projects where seepage control is fundamental to performance and long-term resilience.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

When I think about how my work has positively impacted the community, I go back to the ULE and NULE programs. The work we did there significantly enhanced public safety and the protection of critical infrastructure in Northern California. Since we completed our evaluations and the resulting remedial construction work, the region has experienced several major storm events, and those levees have performed well. In many ways, the biggest success is that nothing happened. The improvements held, and communities were protected. That is extremely rewarding.

Another major project that stands out is the Diamond Valley Reservoir for the Metropolitan Water District. That reservoir provides almost a year’s water supply for Southern California and was designed with the recognition that much of the region’s water comes from Northern California. If an earthquake disrupted that flow, Southern California could have been in a very difficult position. By creating this massive off-stream storage system, supported by three major dams, the Diamond Valley project helped ensure a more secure and resilient water supply for millions of people. All the water in that reservoir is pumped in from the California and Colorado River Aqueducts, so it serves as a critical buffer for the entire region.

There often isn’t recognition for this type of work because the best outcome is when the public doesn’t notice anything at all, and the systems perform exactly the way they’re supposed to. That’s certainly true for both the levee program and the Diamond Valley Reservoir. The results speak for themselves: communities are safer, flooding risks have been reduced and Southern California now has a far more reliable water supply. Knowing that these efforts have strengthened resilience and protected people’s lives and infrastructure is the real reward.

Share a piece of career advice.

I’ve always believed that communication is the key to being a successful consulting engineer. Our work depends on explaining technical recommendations clearly so clients understand what needs to be done and why. If you can’t communicate — whether in writing or in person — it’s very hard to be effective because even the best technical work won’t go anywhere if others can’t follow it.

Today, with so much analysis done on computers and with AI, strong communication skills are more valuable than ever. When engineers learn to speak and write clearly, they can share their ideas with confidence, build trust with clients and take on greater responsibility. Being able to stand in front of a client or community group and explain your work opens doors, and it’s one of the most important capabilities you can develop for a successful and rewarding career.

Header image photo credit: Central Valley Flood Protection Board

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This time, we caught up with Jennifer Williams, Vice President, Civil Engineering, Water, in the U.S. West region to discover how she chose the path she’s on today.   

Hi Jennifer. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I’ve been with ArchTam and legacy companies for almost 30 years. I contribute to both business development and project delivery by representing ArchTam on a variety of professional societies, managing client relationships and programs, and serving technical roles on dam inspection, analysis, risk assessments, design and construction projects. After raising two daughters, I enjoy spending time in the outdoors of Colorado.

Tell us about your career journey.

I didn’t know what an engineer was until I was about 16. Back then, we didn’t have STEM classes like students do now. My older sister went to the Colorado School of Mines, an all-engineering school, and that was the first time I really learned what engineering was all about. I was inspired by what she was doing and decided to follow in her footsteps.

I began my career out of college as a staff engineer with legacy company Woodward-Clyde in Omaha, Nebraska, specializing in soft soil characterization and mitigation. Much of my early experience was hands-on — working behind a cone penetration test (CPT) or drill rig logging soils or performing construction oversight on civil earthwork projects. I also supported the senior principal, Steve Saye, on design of embankments on soft soils and research into settlement mitigation techniques. He became an early mentor, and after about three years, when I was ready to return home to Denver, he helped make that move possible.

After transferring to the Denver office (then URS), I worked as a project engineer on a broad range of geotechnical projects, including landslide mitigation, landfill design, mine tailings dams, and deep foundations. I eventually asked to be paired with John France, a senior practitioner specializing in dams, and soon joined my first dam project. From that experience, I was immediately drawn to dam engineering — the multidisciplinary nature of the work, the teamwork required to solve complex problems, and the depth of expertise within the office. I was motivated by the variety and technical challenge of each project, the range of geotechnical analyses involved, and the opportunity to collaborate closely with multiple disciplines.

After about 10 years, I transitioned into project management and business development, preparing proposals, engaging with clients and presenting at technical conferences — while continuing to contribute technically. These experiences improved my connection to clients and the broader industry, paving the way for managing larger and more complex programs.

Today, as a vice president at ArchTam, I enjoy a dynamic balance between technical work, project management and business development. I currently serve as the technical lead and project manager for the design of a new 300-foot-tall embankment dam here in Colorado. Additionally, I’m the program manager for technical engineering services for a large hydroelectric company in the Northwest, contributing to a broad range of dam-related work. Beyond that, I assist state dam safety programs in advancing their use of risk-informed decision making, including Colorado, Hawaii and New Mexico.

I’m also actively engaged with the broader dam safety community through various roles — serving on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Society on Dams, chairing the Technical Advisory Committee for the Association of Dam Safety Officials, and being the U.S. representative on the Embankment Dam Committee for the International Commission on Large Dams.

How has mentorship helped you on your path?

Your career path is often shaped, if not defined, by the strengths of the teams and individuals you work with. I’ve had the great fortune to work with a few very impactful mentors — John France, Dick Davidson, and Steve Saye to name a few — who played crucial roles in my career. Their openness in sharing knowledge and their passion for excellence really inspired me and helped me grow. What stood out most was their direct candor; they gave me honest feedback that accelerated my learning curve. They also trusted me by giving responsibility while always having my back — checking my work and redirecting me when needed. That balance of support and challenge really helped propel my career forward and taught me the value of strong mentorship.

What’s something you wish someone told you years ago?

Something I wish I’d learned earlier in my career is the value of seeking out diverse perspectives and learning from peers and senior practitioners alike. Never hesitate to ask questions or seek advice — no matter your level of experience. Collaboration and curiosity lead to better solutions, and there’s no shame in not having all the answers; in fact, some of the best ideas come from simply asking for input.

What advice do you have for women who want to get into dams or another traditionally male-dominated industry?

My advice to women interested in entering the dam industry, or any traditionally male-dominated field, is to not define yourself by the gender balance around you. Seek out mentors, both male and female, who support your growth and push you to take on challenges. Be confident in your skills, stay curious and keep learning. Earn respect through a strong work ethic, technical excellence, and an open, collaborative attitude. The industry needs diverse voices and approaches, especially in engineering fields where collaboration, innovation and problem solving are essential.

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B?

If I hadn’t pursued engineering, I think I would have explored a career in the medical field. I’ve always been drawn to problem solving and helping people, and medicine offers a unique way to do both in a very direct and meaningful way. Whether it was becoming a nurse, a physical therapist, or working in medical research, the idea of contributing to people’s health and wellbeing really appealed to me.

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Ken Myers has built a nearly five-decade career dedicated to federal water infrastructure, dam safety and flood risk management — spending more than 20 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Sacramento District and over 30 years supporting major civil works programs in the private sector. After graduating from Chico State University in 1978, he joined USACE through its two-year Junior Engineer Training rotational program. His early assignment as a construction inspector on the New Melones Dam — completed while he was onsite — sparked a long-term commitment to complex dam and flood control projects. Upon completing his rotations, Ken landed in the District’s Levees and Channels Section, where he spent many years advancing urban flood protection work and gaining deep knowledge of the federal project development and delivery process.

After more than two decades of federal service, Ken transitioned to the private sector, where he continued to support USACE and its non-federal partners across California. Over the past 14 years with ArchTam, he has remained closely aligned with the USACE Sacramento District, working with regional flood agencies and joint power authorities to deliver major dam, levee and flood system improvements. In his current role, Ken helps guide ArchTam’s partnership with USACE and advance critical water infrastructure programs that protect communities and support long-term resilience.

Tell us about what inspired your career in dams.

I attribute my interest in dams and flood control to my dad during my childhood, even though he likely had no idea he was influencing my future career path. When I was growing up in the 60s, a large dam was being built on the Feather River, not far from the small agricultural town where I was raised. My dad used to take us up to the overlook where you could see the dam under construction. It seemed like we went there every single weekend, and I remember seeing it slowly rise and take shape, bit by bit.

That river had flooded the year I was born, in 1955, and the Oroville Dam eventually alleviated a lot of that threat. Before the dam was fully completed in 1970, there were still moments when high river stages created real concern. I remember one Christmas when I was about seven or eight, the Feather River was running so high it was almost up to a bridge crossing in town. Even though the Oroville Dam wasn’t fully functional yet, there was enough of the embankment built to help buffer that flood risk. Our family left home for a few days because of the threat, and when we returned, we discovered that my dad and grandfather had moved things up off the floor — including the big console TV — to try to floodproof the house. Looking back, I had no idea how much all of that was sinking in. When you are a kid, it is not a conscious thought that you are going to become a civil engineer because of dams and flood control projects. But looking back, I’m sure those experiences shaped me — even if I didn’t realize it at the time.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

One of my favorite projects at ArchTam has been the Folsom Dam Raise. The goal is to raise the perimeter of the reservoir by six and a half feet. Folsom has the main concrete dam with the spillways and tainter gates, but then around the perimeter there are these low spots, including embankment wing dams, eight earthen saddle dams, and the mile-long Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD). ArchTam was awarded the work on Dikes 7 and 8 and MIAD, and we have been working on this project for about seven years now.

At the project kickoff, USACE let us know they wanted Dike 8 completed on an accelerated schedule, and we worked closely with them to make that happen. As we continued with the designs for Dike 7 and MIAD, project priorities evolved, and we supported USACE through an alternatives analysis to determine the best approach moving forward. Originally everything was going to be a full earthen raise, but through that process the decision was made to go with parapet walls on top of several of the embankments instead. That meant reworking some of the designs, including Dike 7 from final design and MIAD from about 65 percent, but it was the right solution for the project.

Construction of the MIAD raise has just been completed, with Dike 7 construction planned to follow. It has been a complex, multi-year effort with changing needs and fast-track milestones, but it has been incredibly rewarding. Working side by side with USACE, adapting as the project developed, and helping move a major flood risk management project forward has made this one especially meaningful for me.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the communities in California.

A lot of the work I am most proud of has been in the Sacramento region and up through the Yuba City/Marysville area. These are places where communities were directly affected by flood risk, to the point where flood moratoriums were put in place. One example is the Natomas area, just north of downtown Sacramento. At one point, no new development was allowed, and it was very difficult for people to get flood insurance. Through the flood improvement work in Natomas, and in the Yuba River Basin as well, we were able to help demonstrate adequate progress to FEMA. There is a whole process behind that, but once the region met those requirements, the moratorium was lifted and you could start to see infill development return.

This flood protection development made a real difference for people living there. I live in a floodplain myself, and because of the work that local flood agencies have done in partnership with USACE, I believe the risk of flooding has been reduced. I still carry flood insurance, but at a much more affordable, preferred risk rate. Without these improvements, my insurance bill would be sky high. Knowing that our work has helped lower that burden for entire communities — and reduced their flood risk at the same time — is something I feel really good about.

Share a piece of career advice.

My advice is to make sure you become technically proficient in your field. A strong technical foundation really does carry you through your career. When I first started doing design work, I was drawing on mylar with a T-square and calculating quantities with a planimeter. Now technology is completely different, from digital design tools to modern surveying equipment, and it continues to evolve. It has been remarkable to see how much things have changed and how much more precise the work has become. Building solid technical skills early on will help you adapt to those changes and set you up for long-term success.

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Nik Carlson is a principal economist based in Oakland, California with several decades of experience performing economic and financial analyses for a wide range of water, wastewater, renewable energy, transportation and natural resource infrastructure projects across the United States. Nik routinely supports project planning for our clients’ large infrastructure projects. His analysis of economic benefits provides the basis for better decision making, including the evaluation of project alternatives and justification to secure project funding. His expertise in feasibility, benefit-cost, environmental justice and impact analysis help achieve more beneficial, equitable and sustainable long-term project outcomes. Nik’s experience has ranged from supporting multi-billion water/wastewater programs, public-private concession evaluations for the National Park Service, providing grant funding assistance to cities and successful water-right litigation settlements for small tribal governments in rural Montana and Oklahoma. As a certified ENVISION Sustainability Professional, Nik led the sustainability analysis and application that contributed to the US 101 Managed Lanes project receiving a Silver award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

During my gap year before university, I worked for a grassroots environmental group in Massachusetts as a community organizer and door-to-door fundraiser. Our leading issue was advocating and organizing for the clean-up of groundwater pollution from a neighboring military base. I saw firsthand both the environmental effects and the bureaucratic challenges in addressing complex and sensitive issues. But more importantly, working with local residents and public officials showed me the vital and effective role that informed public engagement, stakeholder commitment and collaboration can contribute to achieving effective environmental solutions. This formative experience encouraged me to earn a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government where I gained the analytical skills and tools I needed for a career as an environmental economics practitioner.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

Over the last 14 years, I have been involved in planning and development of Sites Reservoir in Northern California. Once completed, it will be California’s largest new reservoir project in over 50 years and will provide off-stream storage of up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water — enough to serve 7.5 million people. The project is an ambitious and expensive collaboration between the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the State of California, and more than 20 regional water agencies. It has been an interesting, challenging and personally rewarding experience supporting the project’s evolution from initial conceptual alternatives to its forthcoming project delivery during a period of shifting political contexts, regulatory requirements and evolving future water demand and availability projections.

As a complex and multi-benefit water project, there is a multitude of interrelated resource and operational issues. Determining the project’s lifecycle costs and benefits has been an important component of the work. My work also included the analysis to identify the most beneficial approach to water management for urban water demand, agricultural, ecosystem, recreation, flood protection, water quality, emergency supply and hydropower generation. My analysis has supported the evaluation and selection of project alternatives, justified over US$1 billion in federal and state funding, and assisted sensitive negotiations between agency partners to secure public benefits. As a result, this project has greatly expanded both my understanding and ability to perform comprehensive and rigorous economic feasibility evaluations.   

One of the most rewarding achievements was helping the Sites Authority apply and advocate for state funding. This effort required intensive collaboration with the team’s hydrologists, engineers, cost estimators and environmental experts to quantify and document the reservoir’s expected long-term performance.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community

I recently helped the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMVA) in Reno, Nevada win US$30 million in federal grant funding for its groundbreaking wastewater reuse project. This ambitious initiative will convey wastewater from the City of Reno to the City of Sparks for advanced treatment and groundwater replenishment to provide critical benefits to the entire watershed. The project not only increases dry-year water supplies for Sparks’s residents and businesses — it is also a forward-thinking solution that allows the neighboring City of Reno to avoid a costly expansion of its wastewater facility. The recycled wastewater supply is not only vital for supporting the City of Sparks’ future growth and economic development but also important for maintaining local agricultural use and protecting the Truckee River’s ecosystem. By addressing both water scarcity and infrastructure challenges, TVMA is taking a major step towards more sustainable watershed management that also ensures a more reliable and resilient future water supply and wastewater service for the region’s residents and businesses.

Share a piece of career advice.

My advice is to try daily to maintain a growth mindset as best you can. Try to stay curious, open and flexible to new ideas and opportunities. Embrace continuous learning, challenges and occasional mistakes. Actively collaborate and learn from your colleagues. A growth mindset approach will not only help your personal growth and make your professional life more rewarding but can also keep you more youthful and engaged in your day-to-day tasks and relationships. It can also enable you to better collaborate and contribute to innovative problem solving to improve the world around us.

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A civil engineer with seven years of combined experience, Larry Wade previously worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation, where he focused on environmental design for transportation and infrastructure projects. That experience paved the way for his current role as a stream restoration designer on ArchTam’s team, where he continues to apply his expertise in environmental engineering.

Larry resides in Roanoke, Virginia with his wife and their dog. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, running and exploring the outdoors, activities that reflect his love for nature and adventure.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

Growing up, I was drawn to the outdoors and spent my free time outside, typically hiking, fishing, biking or running. At the same time, I loved STEM subjects like math, physics, chemistry and biology, and I dreamed of finding a career that could combine my passion for nature with my interest in science. That’s what led me to study environmental science and engineering in college, where I discovered how conservation and recreation could intersect with solving engineering problems.

Over the years, my career has evolved from focusing on environmental science to working on engineering and design projects. What keeps me inspired is seeing how infrastructure can create meaningful benefits for both communities and the environment, all while advancing sustainability goals.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

My favorite project at ArchTam so far has been the College Lake Dam removal in Lynchburg, Virginia. The dam, classified as a high-hazard structure, posed a significant safety risk to the surrounding community. Its removal was necessary to eliminate the potential for dam failure and to restore the ecological integrity of Blackwater Creek.

Since construction began last January, I’ve been supporting construction oversight and administration for the City of Lynchburg. The project involves removing the dam, restoring more than 4,000 feet of stream and creating floodplain wetlands, all of which will deliver long-term safety, environmental and community benefits.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders. This includes the City, the contractor, our subcontractors, the neighboring university and technical teams across ArchTam, from dam engineers and construction specialists to environmental experts. Each group brought unique expertise that helped make this project a success.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

The College Lake Dam removal project is such a standout example of how a project can have a meaningful impact on a community. The project has significantly improved water quality in the river and eliminated the risk of dam failure. In addition, the restored river will provide a much higher aesthetic value and offer recreational opportunities in the future.

Beyond this project, many of our stream restoration efforts in the Mid-Atlantic, particularly within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, are driven by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Program. These projects focus on reducing erosion by stabilizing streams, which improve watershed quality, but they also often enhance the aesthetics, and the recreational value for the communities they are located in. As civil engineers, we’re deeply committed to serving the public by improving infrastructure but it’s incredibly rewarding to work on stream restoration projects that frequently provide multiple other benefits to the public.

Share a piece of career advice.

My advice, both for life and career, is to make learning a lifelong commitment. A dedication to continual learning not only helps you build a career that is interesting, challenging and rewarding, but also enables you to create meaningful benefits for your community. Achieving this requires asking lots of questions, seeking out the right mentors, and always striving to educate yourself and grow through training and new experiences.

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Patrick Willis is a skilled project manager and civil engineer with over 18 years of planning, design and construction experience working on dam and hydropower projects and leading interdisciplinary project teams. He is passionate about transformative projects that balance infrastructure development with environmental stewardship. Whether it’s rehabilitating critical dams, modernizing hydropower systems, or pioneering pumped storage projects, he is inspired by the potential to make a lasting impact on communities.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I’m originally from rural Vermont, where my passion for engineering began. My father, a geotechnical engineer, ran a small engineering business, and from a young age I helped him around the office and did field work, surveying, and geotechnical investigations. My love for math, science and the outdoors led me to pursue a degree in environmental engineering at Tufts University. Combining these interests has been at the core of my career ever since.

ArchTam has allowed me to merge my focus on the environment and sustainability with infrastructure development. Our work in hydropower and pumped storage aligns with my personal goals, especially as the pumped storage market plays a critical role in the energy transition. It provides the long-duration energy storage needed to bring more wind and solar power online, and I’m excited to contribute to this important effort.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

One of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on at ArchTam is the proposed Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project in eastern Kentucky. This 287-megawatt project, led by Rye Development, is more than just an engineering challenge; it’s a symbol of transformation. Coal industry jobs in southeastern Kentucky have sustained a significant loss in the transition away from coal, creating a significant economic impact. This project is located on a former coal mining site and will repurpose impacted land to bring economic revitalization to the community. At the same time, it’s playing a critical role in our energy transition, enabling more renewable energy to come online.

As the project manager, I’m leading a talented team of 50 individuals through the preliminary design phase. This project represents a long-term commitment to sustainability and community impact. I’m incredibly proud to be part of an effort that addresses economic, environmental, and energy challenges all at once.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

My work at ArchTam often intersects with meaningful community impact, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Dam Safety Program is a great example. This BIA Dam Safety program oversees the safety of approximately 140 high-hazard dams on tribal lands. We’ve supported the BIA for several years with a dedicated team based in Denver, and I serve as the overall program manager.

Many of these dam structures are over a century old and in need of critical rehabilitation. There is limited information available on them, and many have been neglected over time, posing significant risks, including potential failure that could devastate downstream communities. Through this program, my team and I support the BIA to assess, prioritize, and design improvements for these dams, ensuring safety for tribal communities and preserving vital infrastructure.

Share a piece of career advice.

One piece of advice I always share with younger team members is this: whatever task you’re given, especially by leaders that you look up to, knock it out of the park. Develop a reputation of dependability. Delivering excellence, no matter how small or large the task, builds trust and opens doors to new opportunities. It’s something I’ve tried to practice throughout my career, and it’s a principle that has served me well in building relationships and advancing in this field.

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Rob has worked in dam engineering for 15 years with eight of those years in Australia, where he has supported the design and construction of new dams and the upgrade of many existing dams. He is currently a supervising engineer under the Reservoirs Act 1975 and Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011 and is in the process of applying to become an all-reservoir panel engineer.   

What inspired you to join the industry? 

After completing a degree in geology and with an increasing focus on climate change when I was at university, I decided to complete a master’s related to water management, as it was apparent at the time that challenges facing water supply were going to be an issue well into the future. Various types of dams were covered as part of the course and I remember my interest being piqued by the fact that all disciplines of engineering play a role in their design and construction. I then focused my career from my early days as an engineering geologist at a site investigation company to becoming a dam engineer. Since, then I have had the opportunity to work on and lead the design and construction of new dams and the upgrade of existing ones whilst lending my hand to all disciplines of engineering which has kept the job both interesting and challenging. 

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?  

My favourite project at ArchTam has been the abandonment of Purdomstone Reservoir, which is owned by Scottish Water (SW), particularly as I learned a lot about the complexities of abandoning a reservoir, which doesn’t happen very often. SW is the United Kingdom’s largest dam owner with around 280 reservoirs, however more than 100 of these are no longer used for water supply yet still represent an ongoing concern for the business. This is due to the societal risk they pose, with many of these reservoirs upstream of towns and villages.  

I began working on this project in 2020, conducting a study to determine the best course of action for the reservoir—whether to invest in upgrades or abandon it. Since the reservoir was no longer used for water supply, I demonstrated that abandonment was the preferred option due to the societal risk it posed if retained and the ongoing costs to Scottish Water. 

I led the detailed design for the abandonment, which included breaching the main and subsidiary dam embankments to restore the original watercourse level, constructing a new access track through the reservoir basin, infilling the by-wash channel, and implementing erosion protection measures. A key benefit of abandonment was enabling fish passage upstream. After consulting SEPA and Scottish Water, I incorporated a bottomless culvert into the access track design to facilitate fish movement. 

One major challenge was managing sediment accumulation in the reservoir. Based on our analysis of the sediment depth, I developed a solution to pump water from the reservoir into storage lagoons at higher elevations within the basin. A flocculant was then added to separate the silt from the water, which was subsequently discharged into the by-wash channel. 

Throughout 2024, I provided onsite construction support, addressing technical queries during the works. My lasting impression of the project came at its completion, as I marveled at how quickly the reservoir basin reverted to a natural state. 

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community. 

As a result of working on dams, we regularly benefit the communities we serve. Flood storage, in particular, is often what delivers the most tangible benefits for residents. I have been involved in the design of several flood storage reservoirs (FSRs) at ArchTam that have protected the downstream population from flooding. One of the largest of these was Robin Dam situated on the River Garnock in Ayrshire. I was a lead designer responsible for completing the stability and seepage analyses for the dam and also the design of its filter arrangement. 

Share a piece of career advice. 

Take full advantage of any opportunities that present themselves when you work for a large multinational company like ArchTam. I took an opportunity to move to Australia and it was the best decision I ever made, based on the project experience I gained, and the people I worked with, which has helped shape my career to date.   

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