Dr. Christine Altendorf serves as the Chief of the Environmental Division at Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this capacity, Dr. Altendorf oversees the Corps environmental mission, and a team of professionals who enable its worldwide environmental responsibilities. The program provides technical management, design and execution of a full range of environmental protection, cleanup and sustainability activities. Activities include information sharing, lessons learned, communication and innovations across the entire Corps of Engineers, and with government, non-governmental agencies, industry and academic partners and stakeholders.
Dr. Altendorf also is the Chief of the Southwestern Division Regional Integration Team, which encompasses four districts and provides services in parts of seven states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.
Selected to the Senior Executive Service in August 2009, she served as Director, Joint Programs Integration Office, Headquarters, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan in Kabul from July 2011 through January 2012, where she was responsible for managing and maintaining oversight of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure program that includes roads, water and power. Dr. Altendorf also was responsible for Real Estate, Environmental and Operational Energy activities in the Combined Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan. She synchronized the efforts of professional civilians to program, plan, and provide infrastructure for U.S. and NATO deployed units and for Afghanistan’s National Army and Police forces. She also oversaw the coordination of the Afghan infrastructure efforts of the Corps of Engineers with the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, other agencies of the federal government and the Government of Afghanistan.
From July 2009 through July 2011, Dr. Altendorf served as the Director of Programs for the USACE South Pacific Division. In this capacity, she was responsible for the development and execution of all military, civil works, environmental, interagency, and international programs throughout the South Pacific Division. The program also includes implementation of the Clean Water Act 404(b) Regulatory permitting, and emergency response to natural and man-made disasters. Established in 1888, the South Pacific Division has four operating districts headquartered in Albuquerque, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento. These districts provide engineering support in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and in parts of Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Texas. The programs are valued at more than $2 billion with more than 2,200 employees carrying out the mission.
From May 2006 through August 2009, she served as the Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management, Sacramento District. Prior to that, she spent almost two years as the Civil Works Deputy for South Pacific Division Regional Integration Team at USACE Headquarters, Washington, D.C. From April through July 2004, Dr. Altendorf served as the Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management, Restore Iraqi Oil, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baghdad, Iraq. She also served as the Chief of Project Management Branch, Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Okla. and the Chief of Hydrology and Hydraulics, Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Mo.
She began her federal career in April 1994 as a Civil Engineer, Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa. Prior to that she was a Research Engineer, Biosystems Engineering Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla.
Dr. Altendorf received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University. A Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Oklahoma, Dr. Altendorf also was a Senior Executive Fellow, Harvard University; participated in the Joint Executive Management Program at the University of North Carolina; and participated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School Women’s Executive Leadership Program. She is member of the Society of American Military Engineers, the Sigma Xi Research Society and the Society of Women Engineers. She has received numerous awards, including the Bronze Order of the DeFluery Medal from The Army Engineer Association, the Coalition Provisional Authority Service Award in Baghdad, Iraq, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and Superior Civilian Service Award.