Chief Science and Technical Officer

Mr. Herd has served as chief science and technical officer since March 2018 overseeing planning, decision support/modeling, regulatory compliance, water quality/laboratory services and environmental monitoring and management systems. He started his public service career at Tampa Bay Water 34 years ago serving in various positions including project engineer, engineering manager, master water plan program manager and director of operations and facilities. Experience includes planning and design oversight of the $1 billion Master Water Plan Configuration I facilities and direct oversight of design, construction and commissioning of the seawater desalination facility remediation.

From 2008 to 2014, he worked at the Southwest Florida Water Management District serving as water resources bureau chief overseeing water resource science and engineering services. Ken rejoined Tampa Bay Water in 2014 and served as construction and contracts senior manager with responsibilities including oversight of the seawater desalination and surface water treatment operations and oversight of all construction activities, building and grounds and fleet management.

Mr. Herd obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky and is a registered Professional Engineer in Florida. His scientific publications include lead writer of the “Implementation Issues” chapter of “Desalination A National Perspective” published in 2008 by the National Academies Press and served five years (2008 - 2013) on the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Research Council. He is also a member of the American Water Works Association.

Prior to joining Tampa Bay Water, Mr. Herd worked two years as a consulting engineer in Lexington Kentucky, performing geotechnical investigations on water reservoir dams, structure foundations and performing storm water design.