Committees

If you are a USSD member and are interested in joining or learning more about one of our technical committees, please contact us at Info@USSDams.org.

 

The USSD Advocacy Committee serves as the clearinghouse to establish the position of USSD for any initiative that supports national, state, and local programs, legislation, and responses to significant events related to dams, levees, and water resources.


USSD annually honors individuals and organizations through three awards: Lifetime Achievement Award, Award of Excellence in the Constructed Project, and Outstanding Paper Award. A President’s Award is given at the discretion of the President.

USSD scholarships are awarded annually to graduate students enrolled in dam-related programs.


Committee Chair

Brandon Hilbrich

HDR

Keeps the membership informed on items of key professional interest and technical activities through the publication of the USSD Newsletter.


Committee Chair

Travis Tutka

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Vice Chair

Sharon Krock

YP Vice Chair

Gabe Staats

Undertakes special studies, prepares reports and disseminates selected information regarding the use of concrete for dams or corollary topics.


Committee Chair

Del Shannon

Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc.

Vice Chair

Hillery Venturini

YP Vice Chair

Mayank Tanwar

Plans the technical program for the annual conference.


Committee Chair

Aimee Corn

Gannett Fleming, Inc.

Addresses the role of construction management and construction activities in building and maintaining dams and dam related infrastructure.


Committee Chair

Conrad Ginther

Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.

Vice Chair

Nick Patch

YP Vice Chair

Fabrice Byebi

Coordinates and exchanges information with other persons or groups in the United States and internationally that are interested in the decommissioning of dams.


Committee Chair

Peter Haug

Ayres Associates

Vice Chair

Stephen Whiteside

YP Vice Chair

Jared Vegrzyn

Promotes all aspects of dam safety and security through study, compilation and interchange of information on legislation, policy, technical developments and actual performance and security requirements of dams and reservoirs; maintains information by states as to the laws relating to safety and security of dams and compiles information on dam safety and security incidents or failures of dams. Develop programs and tools which gather and disseminate dam safety and security information, coordinate and provide dam safety and security training for USSD members, and establish cooperative arrangements and partnerships with other organizations for the purpose of enhancing the dam safety and security of dams within the United States.


Committee Chair

Bob Pike

Bureau of Reclamation

Vice Chair

Jacob Davis

The mission of USSD’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is to intentionally foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within the dams industry to provide a diverse and inclusive environment, and to focus on opportunities within the dams industry to champion members of diverse and under represented identities and backgrounds related to race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, social and economic status, age, disability, religion, and more.


Committee Chair

Merry Dang

ASI Group Ltd.

Vice Chair

Melinda Dirdal

Identifies seismic problems relating to dams, and when there is a need to develop new knowledge, collects and disseminates that information.


Melanie Walling

GeoEngineers, Inc.

Vice Chair

Chris Krage

YP Vice Chair

Kate Darby

Identify training topics and oversee organization of workshops, seminars, and webinars outside of annual conference.


Committee Chair

Paul Eggers

GEI Consultants, Inc.

YP Vice Chair

Hannah Gridley

Undertakes special studies, prepares reports and collects and disseminates data regarding the use of synthetic and natural materials in the construction of embankment dams.


Committee Chair

Joels Malama

Bureau of Reclamation

Vice Chair

Christopher Krivanec

YP Vice Chair

Jacquelyn Allmond

Provides a clearinghouse and reference center for environmental concerns and effects resulting from existing and proposed dams.


Committee Chair

John Osterle

RIZZO International, Inc.

YP Vice Chair

Usayd Casewit

Studies the overall engineering and geological aspects of foundations for large dams and their appurtenant structures, as well as the reservoir floor and rim. The impact these aspects have on safe performance of the project are also examined.


Committee Chair

Patrick White

HDR

Vice Chair

Kevin Mininger

YP Vice Chair

Corey Schaal

Compiles, analyzes, develops and disseminates information relating to the hydraulics of dams and appurtenant structures. The scope of Committee activities includes water resources projects in the planning, design, construction and operations phases.


Committee Chair

Greg Paxson

Schnabel Engineering

Vice Chair

Keil Neff

YP Vice Chair

Miles Yaw

Coordinates USSD participation in ICOLD Congresses, including recommendations for Congress question topics and selection of USSD papers for publication in Congress Transactions.


Committee Chair

Arun Parsons, P.E.

GEI Consultants, Inc.

YP Vice Chair

Camilo Cristancho

Addresses levee issues, including levee systems, safety and safety programs, risk assessment and management, dam vs. levee concerns, levee security, peer and independent reviews, and other non-technical issues related to levees that are inter-disciplinary.


Committee Chair

Scott Raschke

Schnabel Engineering

Vice Chair

Noah Vroman

YP Vice Chair

Will McRae

Compiles, analyzes and publishes information on the monitoring of dams for assuring continuing safe operations.


Committee Chair

John Hynes

Stantec

YP Vice Chair

Greta Backman

Develops, maintains and communicates programs and tools which gather and disseminate public safety and security best practices for and around dams.


Committee Chair

Sharon Roach

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Vice Chair

Bryan Cisar

YP Vice Chair

Junior Lagade

Promotes design, construction and operation practices to ensure safe tailings dams.


Committee Chair

Amanda Adams

Stantec

Vice Chair

Benjamin Schmidt

YP Vice Chair

Linda Madden

The main role of the USSD Committee on Young Professionals is to increase membership and participation of young professionals, those 35 years of age and under, in USSD.


Committee Chair

Aimee Corn

Gannett Fleming, Inc.

Vice Chair

Olivia Hunt