Today George S. Hawkins joined DC WASA as the Authority’s new General Manager. Mr. Hawkins was formerly the Director of the District of Columbia Department of the Environment (DDOE), a position he held since April 2007. Chairman William M. Walker said, “George Hawkins has done a phenomenal job in leading DDOE, and we’re thrilled to have him.”

The DC WASA board of directors unanimously voted to select Mr. Hawkins as general manager after an extensive nationwide search. Mr. Hawkins will be the second general manager to lead the Authority in its 13-year history.

Commenting on his selection, Mr. Hawkins said, “I am enormously impressed by the efforts of the chairman and the board. I can’t wait to join the DC WASA team.” Mr. Hawkins also said that he plans to “recruit and retain the best talent” and bring “excitement and innovation” to DC WASA.

With more than two decades of experience in organizational leadership and environmental law, Mr. Hawkins brings invaluable leadership skills and extensive regulatory and legal expertise to DC WASA–an agency that serves more than two million people with an annual operating budget of $360 million and a 10-year capital investment plan of more than $3.2 billion.

Before joining DDOE, Mr. Hawkins served as the executive director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association in New Jersey and held several senior positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was also an alternate District member on DC WASA’s board of directors.

Mr. Hawkins stressed the importance of ensuring the quality of water DC WASA delivers and protecting the environment around us. “Water and sanitation are services that are fundamental to the operation of our civilization.”