February 2010
Dr. Sandra K. Knight is currently the new Deputy Assistant Administrator for Mitigation for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, DC. At FEMA, she is a member of the Senior Executive Service and provides leadership, oversight and supervision for the development and administration of regulations, policies and procedures for risk reduction, risk analysis, environmental planning and historic preservation, as well as, regional and disaster support in FEMA's Mitigation Directorate. Her portfolio includes floodplain mapping and management, hazard mitigation assistance grants, building sciences, mitigation planning, dam safety, earthquake hazards reduction, and the development of risk assessment methodologies for natural hazards.
Prior to joining FEMA, Dr. Knight was the Director of Policy, Planning and Evaluation for the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She was responsible for the development of corporate policies and planning strategies, to ensure scientific excellence, transparent operations, and improved performance of NOAA's research portfolio.
Dr. Knight came to NOAA from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Miss., where she was the Technical Director for navigation research and responsible for directing and planning strategic, multidisciplinary research which supported sustainable development and management of the nation's waterways infrastructure. During her last year with the Corps, she was on special assignment to the Corps Headquarters as the team lead for asset management, establishing accountability and life-cycle guidance for over $200 billion of the nation's real property assets. Following the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast, she stepped in to provide leadership support to the Mississippi Valley Division Corps of Engineers as Chief, Business Technical Division, serving as lead engineer for the Valley.
Sandra received her doctorate in Civil Engineering from the University of Memphis in 1996 where she completed her dissertation on physical forces produced by moving vessels and the effects on waterway bed and bank stability, sediment transport, and vessel maneuverability. Dr. Knight has authored or co-authored over 35 technical papers and reports on various aspects of hydraulic engineering. She served on the executive committee of the International Navigation Association (PIANC) as chair of the inland waterways commission (INCOM) from 2004-2007 and served as the US Representative from 1998-2004. She was recently elected Fellow and serves as Commissioner to the US Section PIANC. She currently co-chairs with the USACE, the Research and Development Interagency Action team for the Committee for Marine Transportation Systems and represents FEMA on the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Women's Aquatic Network, the International Navigation Association, and Sigma Xi.
She is a registered professional engineer in the state of Tennessee and has been a Diplomate since March 2007.
Most fun class in school:
PE. Sorry, that stands for physical education not professional engineer. I must say I loved sports in college, but math really exercised my brain.
My source for inspiration:
I have always drawn my energy from the people around me, but my real inspiration is my son, Kyle McKay (also a water engineer!).
An item or something I always wanted:
I always thought it would be fun to be about 6'3" for just a little while to see what the view was like. However, there are advantages to being short (I am 5'1"), so, I'll keep what I have.
Favorite song & artist:
This is tough, but I would settle in on The Times They are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan.
Favorite movie:
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It makes me laugh.
Please share with us on where most of your childhood was spent. What was it like for you growing up there?
SK: I was born and raised in Memphis, TN. It really was a happy childhood and I still consider it "home" although I've been gone for 30 years. My brother and I benefited from loving and responsible parents and a great neighborhood. I have idyllic memories of hours spent outside playing with friends, and family trips fishing and camping.
How early on did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in civil engineering? What were the key factors in your decision to be a civil engineer?
SK: I had absolutely no idea that I wanted to be or would be an engineer. I majored in math and home economics in high school. I applied to several liberal arts colleges, but landed at Memphis State University because of affordability. And this is the real story about how I entered engineering (short version). I went to sign up for freshman English the summer before my freshman year (to get it out of the way) in 1975. The lines were long and hot (we used to register in the old un-air conditioned field house). After several failed attempts to get into certain freshman English classes, I defaulted to the Engineering Computer Programming 1001 registration table. There was no line. At any rate, that put me in the engineering building for the summer, and well, the rest is history. I still contend that my experiences learned while sewing clothes were good preparation for the design and construction of engineering projects.
We know that you just changed roles from NOAA to FEMA here in Washington, DC starting this year and prior, you spent a good portion of your career in Vicksburg, Mississippi at the USACE Research and Development Center. What was your experience like in Vicksburg and having to transition to the DC area?
SK: While Memphis was my childhood home, Vicksburg is where I spent most of my adult life. Both the community and the Corps became my surrogate family. My son was born and raised there and now, full circle, works for the Engineer Research and Development Center. So, the ties are strong and we remain connected. I have to say though, I love DC. Once we got past the sticker shock of housing, the rest has just been magical. Every weekend is a vacation to me. There is so much to do and see. The city is so diverse and stimulating, yet has a small town feel. Plus, I never get tired of the buzzing sense of patriotism that permeates the beltway. It reminds me why I love this great nation and want to continue to serve it.
What will be your main role at FEMA and what is your personal vision for your role?
SK: I am very fortunate to have an incredible staff and a great portfolio. FEMA's role in mitigation is helping the nation buy down risk from natural hazards. Good planning and management practices help communities be resilient and avoid disaster. My team is passionate and dedicated to that mission, so it makes it easy to foster and support their efforts. My vision is to support a holistic approach to hazard mitigation that is adaptive to new technologies and innovative solutions. As flooding is the number one hazard we mitigate in FEMA, it is critical that we take a watershed approach that integrates the best solutions for sustaining our natural environment, preserving our economic viability and protecting lives and properties. This can't be done in a vacuum, so interagency collaboration and community involvement will be critical elements to success.
You have worked on some vital research projects in your career- is there a particular project that truly standout or is memorable to you personally?
SK: As a young professional I had the opportunity to lead a research team on a hydraulic model study of the diversion of an entire river through a mountain via tunnels to alleviate flooding of a small community in the Appalachian Mountains. We conducted physical and numerical models of the proposed structure to evaluate the effects of floating debris. It was a one-of-a-kind study and successfully resulted in an improved design. The project design was completed and ultimately constructed by the Nashville District Corps of Engineers.
You are one of the founding Diplomates of AAWRE- how did you hear about the program and what were the main factors in your decision to pursue the D.WRE?
SK: I heard about the program through a colleague in the Corps, also a founding Diplomate and member, S.K. Nanda. I believe it is an honor and also an obligation to be professionally certified. Professional credibility not only reflects on the individual, but the organization they represent.
What types of services or initiatives would you like to see AAWRE pursue?
SK: Water professionals cross many disciplines. I would like to see AAWRE look for ways to strengthen and certify professionals beyond the engineering discipline to others in the field, such as hydrologists, meteorologists, physical scientists and social scientists. I believe this will strengthen our effectiveness. It will take all the brightest minds and a multidisciplinary approach to manage this valuable resource against the impacts of climate change and the competing demands for water.
We know that you've received some notable Honors and Recognition for your work. What would be your personal advice to students out there that is looking to excel as a student pursuing an engineering career?
SK: Stay with it. It is not an easy curriculum, but the reward is an opportunity to make lasting contributions to society.
You have been an invited Speaker and Lecturer for many conferences from various organizations over the years: Invited Keynote Speaker for Society of Brazilian Naval Architects and Engineers, Invited Keynote Speaker for European Inland Waterways Conference, Presenter to the Annual General Assembly of the International Navigation Association, Speaker to Society of Women Engineers and Lecturer to National Waterways Conference, and etc. What is your formula for a successful presentation to an audience?
SK: Know your subject matter and know your audience. It also helps to have a central message or 3-4 key points you want to get across.
We understand that you have also been featured in several documentaries concerning engineering, most notably, Discovery Channel's "Wrestling the Mississippi" (1999). There have been some good documentaries that have been produced in recent years to raise more awareness to problems in infrastructure, climate change, etc. If you can make your own documentary about an engineering related issue(s), what would the title be and what would it focus on?
SK: "The Currency of Water". It would focus on the global crisis of water and how the physical, social and political issues surrounding water will be the number one challenge that faces the world if we don't take action.
If you can share, what is your personal philosophy or vision on leadership and for being successful?
SK: Every leader has their own style and strength. You should play to that strength. Be true to what is right, trust your intelligence, embrace diverse opinions and be gracious and respectful of others.
It seems that you are well-traveled. Which city(s) or places are some of your favorite places you visited?
SK: Perhaps one of the most intriguing places for me was Belèm, Brazil. It was not like any place I had ever visited. As far as favorite, what's not to love about Paris!
Which fond memories will you have of this place(s) and any particular moments that have really stayed with you or stand out?
SK: While in Brazil, I took a short boat trip up the mouth of the Amazon River. It struck me how genuinely adaptive and resilient the people were living in concert with their natural environment. There are lessons to learn there in living in a floodplain and in harmony with the ecosystem.
What are some of your personal hobbies and interests?
SK: My boyfriend and I like to exercise, particularly running, hiking and biking. Which is a good thing since the other thing we really enjoy is food. I have turned into a "foodie" here in DC because of all the great places to eat. It has inspired me to cook more and I enjoy trying it out on my friends and family.
What are some of your personal goals for the next year?
SK: It is kind of a joke around my house that I don't make New Year's resolutions. Right now in my life, my career is all-consuming, and my goals are set around supporting the mission. So it is critically important that I balance that with a little fun. I count on my boyfriend, family and friends to keep me on track.