Reclamation Veteran Engineer Named as Director of Security, Safety, and Law Enforcement

Registered professional engineer Karen Knight has been named as the Director of Security, Safety, and Law Enforcement for the Bureau of Reclamation. Reclamation’s Commissioner Brenda Burman made the announcement of Knight’s new position saying:

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the public, our employees, and our facilities,” said Commissioner Burman “and I am certain that Karen Knight will do an outstanding job leading Security, Safety, and Law Enforcement for the Bureau of Reclamation.”

Knight has served in a number of positions since joining Reclamation in 1999 including leadership positions as team leader and lead designer for embankment and foundation safety modifications with Reclamation’s Technical Service Center Dam Safety Advisory Team; manager of Geotechnical Engineering; and Chief of the Geotechnical Services Division. In February 2015 Knight became Chief of the Dam Safety Office at Reclamation where she oversaw five major dam safety projects which have either been completed or advanced to construction.

Knight’s professional affiliations include membership with the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the U.S. Society on Dams where she served for six years on the Board of Directors. Her engineering experience spans almost 30 years.

Knight has also completed the Department of the Interior’s Senior Executive Service Career Development Program, where she worked with the National Park Service in Washington, District of Columbia. Knight has a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Knight will be the first woman to lead Security, Safety, and Law Enforcement at Reclamation. “As the first female Commissioner of Reclamation, it brings me great pride to welcome Ms. Knight as a fellow pioneer, breaking another glass ceiling as the person best qualified to fill this important leadership role,” said Commissioner Burman.

In her new role as Reclamation’s Director of Security, Safety, and Law Enforcement Knight will be responsible for protecting the public, Reclamation employees, and Reclamation facilities through the development and implementation of an integrated security, safety, and law enforcement program. The Department of Security, Safety, and Law Enforcement is located in Denver.