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Each year, applications throughout the Bureau of Reclamation are submitted to nominate engineers in each region for exceptional accomplishments in the related field and for their service throughout the course of their careers. This year, the honor of the Regional Offices’ Engineer of the Year went to the Upper Colorado Region’s Hilda Castillo-Smith from the Four Corners Construction Office for her impressive work on the important Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

“Working as a civil engineer for Reclamation, Hilda employs a unique and diverse skillset to design, develop, implement, and manage construction of several of the nation’s most challenging and critically needed engineering projects,” said Field Engineering Division Manager Emma Manzanares. “She serves as a lead resident engineer responsible for delivering reliable drinking water to the Navajo Nation in the arid and drought-ridden American Southwest. Her engineering capabilities are exceeded by her charm as an influential negotiator.”

Castillo-Smith manages construction on contracts worth a total value of $175 million with construction proficiency, utilizing professional engineering principles and practices to ensure the projects meet Reclamation, industry, and regulatory standards, including the Safe Drinking Water Act. In the past three years, she has served as the resident engineer on the high-profile NGWSP’s Block 9-11, Block 4c-8, and the Navajo Code Talkers Sublateral construction contracts, projects critical to fulfilling our nation’s treaty obligations to the Navajo Nation.

As an environmental steward, Castillo-Smith balances multiple high-priority daily demands while protecting Native American cultural resources, artifacts, and lands, working with Navajo Tribal members to ensure their concerns are addressed while still finding ways to construct the NGWSP pipeline.

“What is impressive about Hilda is that before the sun even rises, she departs for the first of many construction site visits of the day,” said FCCO Deputy Area Manager Ryan Gladden. “Then after driving two hours on dusty roads, she holds impromptu project meetings from her truck’s tailgate- answering critical project questions, reviewing contractor submittals and safety plans. She continues to the next site to conduct a safety inspection and make decisions on pipeline alignment. When most engineers end their day, she is representing Reclamation at meetings providing critical updates to Tribal representatives and to the public.”

“Beyond her role as resident engineer, Hilda is the kind of person you can count on to do anything for the betterment of the project,” said FCCO Manager Bart Deming. “She is always willing to collaborate with the contractor to resolve a difficult issue, volunteer to take on a new assignment, or give anyone on the team a hand. It is a pleasure to work with her each day helping deliver water to the Navajo people on the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.”

Castillo-Smith takes on the role of designer, project manager, safety representative, public outreach coordinator, and engineer and is an integral part of two very complex construction contracts. She’s an engineer who performs at an exceptional level, including on some aspects outside of her typical engineering duties, such as public outreach, and says she is proud to be a participant in delivering water to Navajo Nation members.

“We’re grateful for Hilda’s exceptional professionalism and going the extra mile in supporting Reclamation’s mission,” said Upper Colorado Basin Assistant Regional Director Daniel Picard. “Her considerable engineering contributions have enhanced Tribal relationships and improved water supplies throughout the Four Corners region.”

Castillo-Smith received recognition for her successful engineering career with Reclamation by the Commissioner and the Upper Colorado Basin leadership presented her with an award at Glen Canyon Dam.