Richard Engberg, water columnist for the Middleburg Eccentric, recently retired as Technical Director of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA).

Engberg joined AWRA in 1999, following his retirement from the Department of the Interior (DOI). This was the same year that AWRA relocated to Middleburg.

As Technical Director, he was very active in U. S. water policy, organizing and co-chairing four AWRA National Water Policy Dialogues. He also was responsible for working with volunteers to organize the programs for AWRA's annual water resources conferences and two specialty conferences each year.

He was copy editor for the AWRA magazine, Water Resources IMPACT, and edited issues of IMPACT on a biannual basis. He advised the Executive Vice President on water resources technical issues and represented AWRA at technical meetings in Washington, DC and elsewhere.

At DOI, as a member of the Senior Executive Service, he was manager of the National Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP) for more than nine years. Representatives from four federal agencies were assigned to NIWQP to evaluate the environmental impacts of DOI irrigation projects in 17 western states on fish and wildlife.

Under Engberg's leadership, more than 200 reports, journal articles and book chapters were produced on western irrigation projects. A recognized expert on the element selenium, he co-edited the book, Environmental Chemistry of Selenium.

Prior to his work at DOI, he spent 26 years with the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS). His last position with USGS was District Chief, Iowa District in Iowa City, IA. He was responsible for all USGS activities in Iowa.

During his government career, he published more than 50 reports and journal articles. Engberg was the recipient of several awards including the Distinguished Service Award, DOI's highest award.

At AWRA, he has received the President's Award for Service, and the Henry Caulfield Medal for excellence in U. S. water policy. He was recently selected for the Icko Iben Award for excellence in water resources communication.

Richard presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation, North Bethesda, MD. He has been a member of the Middleburg Wellhead Protection Committee, and the Loudoun County Water Resources Advisory Board.

A Nebraska native, Richard holds degrees in chemistry and geology from the University of Nebraska (UNL) and presently is a member of the UNL Geoscience Department Alumni Advisory Board. In 2007, he was elected to the Beatrice, Nebraska, High School Hall of Fame.