Jason McIlwee
Jason McIlwee is a Professional Engineer with extensive experience in municipal utilities and environmental engineering. He currently serves as a Deputy Director of Utilities- Administration and Engineering, overseeing infrastructure projects and contributing to resilience and public utility planning. With a strong background in engineering operations and project management, he has been involved in initiatives related to water systems and urban infrastructure development, supporting sustainable and efficient public services.
Experience Shaping Utility Leadership
I started my public sector career inspecting utilities construction and worked my way through the ranks to Deputy Director. Prior to the public sector, I worked in home construction and then for an environmental consulting firm mainly designing engineered septic systems.
Working in different roles across the private and public sectors gave me the opportunity to work with many different types of people across many disciplines. I have also fortunately had several amazing mentors that have significantly shaped my professional career. Diverse experiences, paired with valuable guidance, formed me into a well-rounded and knowledgeable leader.
That foundation has also shaped my view of what is needed to balance technical excellence with effective utility administration. Technical competence, fairness, dedication, empathy and responsiveness are essential.
Managing Priorities in Public Utilities
When engineering challenges compete with community needs and budget constraints, the health and safety of our customers are always the number one priority. Sometimes the decision may not be the most popular or the least expensive.
However, when it comes to our core services, priorities will shift to ensure that our customers continue to receive clean drinking water, safe and clean wastewater collection, safe conveyance of stormwater and safe and reliable natural gas service.
“The health and safety of our customers are always the number one priority.”
At the same time, utility leadership is being redefined by the need to continue providing safe and reliable service at an affordable rate, while meeting aggressive sustainability goals, as well as ever-evolving regulatory requirements.
Shaping the Next Generation of Leaders
For emerging professionals who aspire to lead in public sector utilities with impact and resilience, it is important to learn as much as you can from your co-workers, colleagues, and peers across the profession.
Attend professional conferences, join professional associations and continue to learn about new technologies and ways of working. There are many professionals in this industry that have a great deal of experience across a wide array of utility sizes, systems and locations.
