Miguel Rocha
Miguel Rocha was named director, Dam Safety and Infrastructure on June 3, 2024. He is responsible for the safety and reliability of Reclamation's diverse infrastructure by effectively managing risk and maximizing the value of Reclamation's assets for stakeholders and the American public.
The Dam Safety and Infrastructure organization consists of two Reclamation programs:
- Dam Safety Program – The Dam Safety program ensures that Reclamation dams do not present unreasonable risks to people, property and the environment. The program was implemented in 1978 with the passage of the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act. It ensures that dams are operated and maintained in a safe manner, ensured through inspections for safety deficiencies, analyses utilizing current technologies, and corrective actions if needed based on current engineering practices.
- Asset Management Program – The program is responsible for ensuring effective operations and stewardship of Reclamation's infrastructure by establishing an agile framework in collaboration with external and internal stakeholders. It is responsible for a diverse portfolio of constructed assets, with many facilities that are now more than 100 years old.
Rocha's career at Reclamation began in 1999 as a civil engineer in the Oklahoma Texas Area Office, where he first delved into the critical areas of high-hazard potential dams and facility reviews. His dedication and expertise led him to work as a civil engineer in what is now Reclamation's Missouri Basin Regional Office and the Albuquerque Area Office. He then took on the role of project manager for the Managing for Excellence effort before transitioning to the Research and Development Office as the science and technology program coordinator.
He joined the Dam Safety and Infrastructure Office in 2015 as a program manager and supervisor of the Dam Safety Office in 2019. He was named Chief of the Dam Safety Office in April 2022, where he was responsible for implementing the Dam Safety Program at the Bureau of Reclamation, including dam safety modifications totaling $2.5 to $3 billion.
Rocha has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. He is a registered professional engineer in New Mexico and a certified project management professional.
