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Environmental Services Executive Profile

Tacoma Environmental Services Director - Michael P. Slevin III, P.E.

As Director of the Environmental Services Department, Michael manages and operates three utilities for the City of Tacoma. The Wastewater, Surface Water, and Solid Waste utilities employ over 500 personnel with a biennial operating and capital budget in excess of $450 million. 

He has participated in and led several major capital projects during his 26 years as a City of Tacoma employee including: Foss Waterway superfund cleanup, Tacoma Landfill superfund cleanup, The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center construction, Central Wastewater treatment plant upgrades, Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center construction, Center for Urban Waters construction, and Pacific Plaza redevelopment. 

Additionally he has managed several major sustainable programs and initiatives such as TARGO Biosolids, Food Waste collection, Low Impact Storm Water Development, Every Other Week Garbage Collection, Community Gardens, Compressed Bio Gas Alternative Fuels, and the Open Space program.

Michael graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree Summa Cum Laude in Civil Engineering from Washington State University, and earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Washington Tacoma where he was recognized as the first Tacoma Milgard School of Business Distinguished Alumnus. He is a Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in Washington State and a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. He is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School Water and Wastewater Leadership Center, and the University of Idaho Utility Executive Course. He serves as an American Public Works Association Daniel C. Stone Leadership Fellow, an Urban Land Institute Daniel Rose Fellow, and on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

Michael retired from the Washington Army National Guard after 28 years of active and reserve service as an Airborne Sapper qualified Explosive Ordnance Disposal Engineer officer. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals for his actions during combat deployments to Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His military training has added robust communication, leadership, and problem solving skills to his management experience.

 

It is his passion and goal to help redevelop and prepare Tacoma for the next century while protecting and restoring our community’s abundant natural resources such as the Puget Sound, by instituting financially responsible sustainable development and infrastructure programs and projects.

He lives in Pierce County with his wife Deborah and two sons John and Matthew.

Education

  • Masters of Business Administration from the University of Washington Tacoma
  • Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Washington State University
  • Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Graduate
  • University of North Carolina Water and Wastewater Leadership Center Graduate
  • University of Idaho Utility Executive Course Graduate

Memberships / Affiliations

  • National Association of Clean Water Agencies
  • American Public Works Association
  • Urban Land Institute 
  • Solid Waste Association of North America
  • Water Environment Federation
  • American Society of Civil Engineers
  • National Society of Professional Engineers
  • Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society

Mike Slevin

Michael P. Slevin III, P.E.

Environmental Services Director 



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