News Release
| Release Number: | 99-034 |
| Dated: | 4/14/1999 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.--James D. Van Nest is the new chief of the Contracting Division for the Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He took over that position on March 14, 1999. Van Nest was previously the chief of the Contracting Division for the Corps' Albuquerque District.
Van Nest succeeds George Wight, who retired from the position on Jan. 1 after 26 years with the Corps. He had been chief of the Contracting Division since 1993.
In his position Van Nest supervises about 31 professional employees, including procurement specialists, contract administrators and other technical personnel. The Contracting Division is responsible for all contract and purchase actions within the Portland District. Each year the office procures about $85 million in contract services, construction and other purchases.
Van Nest joined the Corps in 1977. He started his career in Seattle as a contract specialist with the Corps' Seattle District. In May 1984, he was promoted to chief of the contract section. In March 1988 he transferred to the U.S. Army's European Contracting Command where he was chief of the Materials and Services Branch at the regional contracting office in Fuerth, Germany. He returned to the United States in 1990 as the chief of the Contracting Division at Albuquerque District.
In 1992, Van Nest was named as a Certified Professional Contracts Manager by the National Contract Management Association.
Van Nest was born in Plainfield, N.J., and received his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from the University of Washington.
He and his wife, Julie Ann, have two children.