Speakers
Karen Durham-Aguilera, PE
As of March 2007, Karen Durham-Aguilera, PE, serves as the Director of Task Force Hope in New Orleans, Louisiana, part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division. She is responsible for overseeing over $14 billion for the hurricane protection system work in New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the long-term planning of coastal restoration and hurricane damage reduction.
Ms. Durham-Aguilera was selected for the Senior Executive Service in June 2003. From the time of her selection through February 2007, Durham-Aguilera served as Director of Programs for the Corps’ Northwestern Division where she was responsible for $3.5 billion in civil works and military programs that included hydroelectric, navigation, flood damage reduction, and endangered species recovery projects, in an area that covered 14 states of the continental United States.
In 2005, Durham-Aguilera served as the Director of Reconstruction Programs, Project and Contracting office in Baghdad, Iraq, a Joint Service position. She was responsible for planning, coordination, contracting, acquisition, and execution of nearly 3,200 projects spanning all construction sectors throughout Iraq with a workforce from all branches of the Armed Forces, multi-national civilians and Iraqi professionals.
Career Chronology:
Mar 1998 – May 2003: Chief, Construction-Operations Division, US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, CA
Mar 2003 – Jul 2003: Chief of Operations (Senior Executive Service Detail), US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
Jan 1995 – Mar 1998: Huntsville, Technical Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, AL and Resident Engineer, Anniston Chemical Demilitarization Resident Office, Anniston, AL
Jan 1997 – Jul 1997: Deputy Chief, Operations, Construction, and Readiness Division, Directorate of Civil Works, US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC (Detail)
Feb 1995 – Feb 1996: Deputy Director, Construction Division (Detail/Dual Assignment), Huntsville, Technical Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville AL
Mar 1990 – Jan 1995: Resident Engineer, Cannon Air Force Base Resident Office, Albuquerque District, US Army Corps of Engineers, Clovis, NM
1989-1990: Resident Engineer, Holloman Air Force Base, Albuquerque District, US Army Corps of Engineers, Alamogordo, NM
1988-1989: Resident Engineer, Southern Colorado Resident Office, Albuquerque District, US Army Corps of Engineers, Pueblo, CO
1987-1988: Supervisory Project Engineer, Europe District, US Army Corps of Engineers, Heilbronn, Germany
1985-1987: Project Engineer, Europe District, US Army Corps of Engineers, Wildflecken, Germany
1983-1985: Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Manager, New Orleans District, US Army Corps of Engineer, New Orleans LA
1980-1983: Geotechnical Engineer with Architectural/Engineering firms in Decatur, AL and New Orleans, LA
College:
Masters of Engineering, Civil, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 1980
BS, Civil Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 1979
Significant Training:
Executive Development Program (Operations and Construction functional areas), US Army Corps of Engineers, 1999
Certifications:
Professional Engineer (Civil), State of Louisiana
Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level II Certification
Awards and Honors:
Bronze Order of the DeFleury Medal, 2007
Department of The Army, Meritorious Civilian Service Award, 2006, 2005
Department of the Army, Superior Civilian Service Award, 2003, 2004
Department of the Army, Civilian Service Award, 1987, 1993, 1998, 2002
Federal Professional Engineer of the Year, Southwest Division, Corps of Engineers 1994
Engineer/Architect of the Year, Southwest Division 1990
Engineer/Architect of the Year, Albuquerque District 1990
Professional Memberships and Associations:
Army Acquisition Corps
Society of American Military Engineers
Morning Plenary: Southeast Louisiana and the Greater New Orleans
Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction System.