News Release Archive

Reclamation Appoints Nebraska-Kansas Area Manager

Media Contact: Mark Andersen, (406) 247-7610, 07/05/2007 18:23

For Release: July 05, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation's Great Plains Regional Director Mike Ryan has announced the appointment of Aaron Thompson from Casper, Wyo., to serve as manager of Reclamation's Nebraska-Kansas Area. The main office is located in Grand Island, Neb., with an associated field office in McCook, Neb. Thompson begins duty in early August.

Thompson, who was raised in the state and earned an engineering degree from the University of Nebraska, said, "I'm excited for the opportunity to manage water operations that are so vital to my home region. I've worked on projects in this field both nationally and internationally, and so it's a real bonus to bring my experience back to an area where I have such a strong emotional attachment. Nebraska and Kansas are the places I learned to fish and water ski - it's the area where I grew up."

Ryan said Thompson will be responsible for managing programs and facilities associated with 15 Reclamation dams and reservoirs in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. Reclamation facilities in the three states supply water to nearly 300,000 acres of farmland and provide a host of popular recreation areas.

Thompson most recently served as deputy area manager of the Wyoming Area Office from 2006 and 2007. He was previously special assistant to the Great Plains Regional Director, handling congressional and legislative issues for the region. Thompson has also worked as facilities manager at Davis Dam in Laughlin, Nev., and as a mechanical engineer at Hoover Dam from 2001 to 2003. Prior to that, Thompson was employed by a private engineering consulting firm, working on projects for China, Arizona and Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and master's degree in Business.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Great Plains Home Page

Nebraska-Kansas Area Office Home Page