Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Adrian Hightower, PhD, PE, ENV-SP serves as the Sustainability and Resilience Manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, focusing on reducing the carbon footprint of the water industry and enhancing climate resilience. With extensive expertise in workforce development, Hightower leads efforts in updating the long-term Workforce Development Plan aimed at advancing equity and modern workplace strategies. Hightower also manages the Education Unit, overseeing water-related educational programs. Additionally, Hightower contributes to organizations such as Ten Strands and Sustain SoCal, emphasizing environmental education and cleantech initiatives. A former Assistant Professor at Harvey Mudd College and Occidental College, Hightower has a strong background in materials science and energy systems, holding a PhD in Materials Science from Caltech.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.