James A. Hanlon

CEEAA Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011

For leadership in the development and implementation of programs associated with protecting and enhancing the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems and consequently improving the quality of life and public health for residents across the country.

Biography

James A. Hanlon is Director of the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) in the Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The OWM is responsible for the management of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program, which permits municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, the administration of Federal financial and technical assistance for publicly owned wastewater treatment works including EPA’s $80 billion Clean Water Revolving Fund program and the WaterSense water efficiency program.

Hanlon is a career civil servant with more than 35 years of government service with the EPA. In 1984, he was appointed to the position of Director, Municipal Construction Division, and was responsible for the management of the EPA’s national construction grants and state revolving fund programs, providing assistance to municipalities in their wastewater infrastructure construction programs. He was appointed to the position of Deputy Director of the Office of Science and Technology in the Office of Water in 1991. In this capacity, he was responsible for the scientific and technical basis of the federal water quality and safe drinking water programs.