Alameda County Water District
Girum Awoke, Ph.D, P.E., DBIA has extensive work experience in engineering and academia. Girum is currently serving as the Director of Engineering and Technology at the Alameda County Water District. Prior to this role, they worked as an Adjunct Professor at San Jose State University and Santa Clara University. Girum also has experience in public works, having served as the Director of Public Works for the City of Vacaville and the City of Gilroy. Girum has held various positions in the construction industry, including Chief at MC DOT Construction and Project Manager at MC DOT. Additionally, Girum has a background in research, serving as a Research Assistant at the University of Maryland.
Girum Awoke, Ph.D, P.E., DBIA has an extensive education history. Girum earned their Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Addis Ababa University in 2001. Girum then pursued further studies and obtained their Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland between 2005 and 2011.
In terms of executive education, Girum attended the WWLC Executive program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023. Girum also completed a certificate program in Executive leadership at Stanford University's Local Governance Summer Institute in 2019.
Girum has also acquired several additional certifications throughout their career. Girum obtained the Water Distribution System Operator Grade II certification from the State Water Resources Control Board in June 2022. Additionally, they obtained the Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade II certification from CA SWRCB in June 2021. Girum is also a certified Professional Engineer (P.E.) in California, having obtained this license from the California DCA BPELS in April 2016. Furthermore, they hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license obtained from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (DLLR) in January 2008. Girum's commitment to professional development is evident through their achievement of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification in March 2017.
Alameda County Water District
The Alameda County Water District is a California water utility that supplies safe drinking water to the residents and businesses of Fremont, Newark and Union City. Founded in 1914, ACWD has proudly served the community for over 100 years, and we currently serve more than 351,000 people with a staff of 230 dedicated employees. Providing customers with a reliable supply of high quality water at reasonable price is our mission --- one we strive to uphold while protecting the health and safety of the communities we serve. This requires a dedicated staff of trained professionals who know what it takes to keep the water system safe and sound – without interruption. With over 100 square miles of service area; numerous water treatment, pumping and storage facilities; and over 900 miles of water main pipelines, our dedicated staff work hard to maintain critical infrastructure. Ever-constant stewards of the environment, we work to preserve our natural resources and educate the public about water resources, groundwater protection and water conservation. As a public agency committed to providing top notch water service to the Tri-City area, we strive for excellence in our customer service, the quality of water we provide, and the work that we do each day within our organization. From customer service representatives to gardeners, electricians, accountants, engineers, treatment facility operators, chemists, utility workers and many more – we have a variety of jobs to attract the finest of trades and professionals. At ACWD, we value our employees and encourage creativity, community, collaboration, diversity and excellent customer service.