Karl Wirkus
Deputy Commissioner, Operations
Karl Wirkus was named Deputy Commissioner for Operations, effective January 7, 2008. Wirkus oversees operations in the Bureau of Reclamation's five regions, the Native American and International Affairs Office, and Technical Resources which includes the Technical Service Center, Research and Development Office, Power Liaison, and Dam Safety Officer/Design, Estimating, Construction.
Wirkus' experience spans more than 25 years with Reclamation where he has worked in a variety of positions in three of the five Reclamation regions. Most recently, Wirkus was the Deputy Regional Director for the Pacific Northwest Region. The Region encompasses the Columbia River Basin and coastal watersheds of Oregon and Washington.
In this position, Wirkus represented the Pacific Northwest Region in complex negotiations on endangered species act issues and supported the Regional Director in all other aspects of the regions programs. Well respected for his analytical ability and problem-solving skills, Wirkus also served on numerous Reclamation teams.
Most recently he served on Team 12 of Reclamation's Managing for Excellence which looked at Collaborating with Customers on Decisions about Engineering and Other Technical Services and New Business Model for Managing Engineering and Other Technical Services.
Wirkus joined Reclamation in 1981 as the project geologist for dam safety modifications at Jackson Lake Dam in western Wyoming, and resident construction manager for Como Dam modifications in southwestern Montana and rebuilding Kirby Dam in Idaho.
He became the Area Manager for the Klamath Basin Area Office beginning in 1996. Prior to becoming Deputy Regional Director, Wirkus served as the Regional Manager for Resources and Technical Services in the Pacific Northwest Region.
Wirkus received his Bachelors Degree in geology from Boise State University in 1984.