About John Priest, PE

John Priest earned his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1952. Over the past six decades, John has managed staffs and successfully implemented water resource, environmental, policy and institutional programs in the U.S. and for international lending agencies and government ministries. Between 1959 to 1986, he went from planning engineer, to vice president and group manager for the eastern hemisphere at Harza Engineering Company in Chicago. Subsequently, as senior vice president and then president, he directed global operations of Engineering Consultants, Inc. in Englewood, Colo. The following six years he managed and directed environmental and engineering projects in Argentina and Chile for Black & Veatch International. For the rebuilding of five countries that had been devastated by war and natural disaster, from 2004-2009, John oversaw the strengthening of Afghan contractors through the rebuilding of infrastructure, accompanied by the reintegration into society of combatants following 30 years of war. At the request of President Christiani of El Salvador, he formulated plans and policies for rebuilding the national electric power system. During the 1970s, he led preparation of a 5-year investment program for Pakistan. He formulated measures for recovery from the 1991 eruptions of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, to alleviate conditions in some 7,500 sq. kms that had been blanketed with ash and lava. He led financing studies for the $20 billion Tunnel and Reservoir Program for Greater Chicago to capture storm water runoff that contaminated Lake Michigan, and for the preparation of a USBR Congressionally mandated report to secure the 1979 appropriation for construction of the Garrison Diversion Project. The object was to compensate tribes and farmers whose land had been inundated by construction of reservoirs on the Missouri River. During the last 20 years of reserve service in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, he was promoted to Captain and was Action Officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations for Strategy, Plans and Policy with a focus on the Global Maritime Strategy that was designed for peaceful defeat of the Soviet Union. John lives in Littleton, Colo.