Dr. Kirankumar Topudurti is the Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL). He provides leadership to a team of 350 employees and manages CERL's $180M research and development program focused on environmental quality and installations. Dr. Topudurti has a Ph.D. in environmental engineering and has received extensive leadership training from prestigious institutions. He has over 20 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, with numerous publications and awards recognizing his contributions to hazardous waste treatment technologies.

1. Biography
Dr. Kirankumar Topudurti, P.E., DEE, FAIC, F.NSPE, F.AAAS, Dist.M.ASCE
Deputy Director, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
Engineer Research and Development Center
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
As the Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), Dr. Kirankumar Topudurti
serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Corps of Engineers (USACE) laboratory that provides interdisciplinary research and
development (R&D) capabilities for the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, and the Nation. His efforts have a direct, positive
impact on CERL’s ability to provide science and engineering solutions to the complex, military-specific challenges inherent in
owning and operating quality military installations for the Soldier. To support CERL’s mission, Dr. Topudurti provides leadership
to a team of about 350 employees in the development and execution of a $180M R&D program primarily focused on the
Environmental Quality and Installations business area; manages the laboratory’s human, financial, and physical assets; and
tenaciously steers the laboratory’s strategic planning in pursuit of the USACE vision of being “A GREAT engineering force of
highly disciplined people working with our partners through disciplined thought and action to deliver innovative and sustainable
solutions to the Nation’s engineering challenges.” He also serves as the CERL Chief Management Negotiator with the Union.
Dr. Topudurti has a B.S. in civil engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India, an M.S. in civil engineering
from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, and a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the Illinois Institute of
Technology (IIT) in Chicago, IL. He has also received extensive leadership education and training from several prestigious
institutions including Harvard University, Center for Creative Leadership, Federal Executive Institute, Brookings Executive
Education, and Army Management Staff College.
Prior to joining CERL, Dr. Topudurti worked for Tetra Tech EM Inc. in Chicago, and also served as an adjunct professor at IIT
Chicago. As the Tetra Tech Principal Technical Advisor, he directed high visibility technical programs and developed a strategic
vision for the company by serving as an advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Technology Officer, and the group
general managers. He also served as a delegate to the former Soviet Union as part of an Environmental Technology Delegation,
in which he participated in discussions with U.S. and Soviet environmental professionals involving the evolving Soviet
modernization program and the impact of that program on environmental protection.
Dr. Topudurti’s contributions to civil and environmental engineering are recognized worldwide. His accomplishments have
advanced over 20 innovative hazardous waste treatment, sampling, and measurement technologies, including implementation at
over 100 hazardous waste sites. His contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors and awards,
including the National Society of Professional Engineers’ Federal Engineer of the Year, LTG J.W. Morris USACE Civilian of the
Year, USACE Engineer of the Year, Illinois Government Engineer of the Year, two American Academy of Environmental
Engineers and Scientists’ (AAEES) Excellence in Environmental Engineering Grand Prizes (research), Water Environment
Federation’s Radebaugh Award, Federal Managers Association’s Professional Writing Prize, and two Consulting Engineers
Council of Illinois’ Engineering Excellence Awards. He also received the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service (Secretary
of the Army), de Fleury Congressional Medal of Honor, Superior Civilian Service Award, two Commander’s Awards, and
Achievement Medal for Civilian Service from the US Army.
Dr. Topudurti has authored numerous refereed publications, presented many papers at international conferences, and is a
registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois and a Diplomate Environmental Engineer of AAEES. He also served on
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board, chaired the AAEES Development and Upgrading of
Examinations Committee, and currently chairs the AAEES International Relations Committee. He is an elected member of
many science/engineering honor societies, including Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi, a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists,
the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a
Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.