Jose E. Sánchez, PE, SES

Jose E. Sánchez, PE, SES
Principal U.S. Delegate to the Inland Navigation Commission
Deputy Director of Research and Development
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Jose E. Sánchez became the Deputy Director of Research and Development and Deputy Chief Scientist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December 2017. In this role, he assists in developing policy, setting direction and providing oversight for Corps research and development supporting the Department of Defense and other agencies in military and civilian projects.

Sánchez began his career in 1995 as a Research Hydraulic Engineer in the Hydraulics Laboratory at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. From 2008 to 2010 he served as the Corps’ Chief of Asset Management and was responsible for developing and executing an integrated national plan and investment strategy for the Corps’ infrastructure assets. Prior to his current position, Sánchez served for four years as the Director of the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory where he led a team of more than 250 researchers, support staff and contractors and was responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating a multi-million dollar research program in the specialized areas of coastal and hydraulics. Most recently, he served as the acting Director of Contingency Operations and Homeland Security and Director of the Puerto Rico Power Grid Restoration Program.

Sánchez has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, doctorate-level courses from Mississippi State University, and is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. He has written numerous technical publications on navigation locks, hydropower dams, surface and groundwater hydrology, computational fluid dynamics, coastal engineering, and infrastructure asset management and has served as a consultant and technical advisor in several international research efforts.

Sánchez is a registered Professional Engineer in Mississippi, a member of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. His awards include the Civil Engineering Distinction Award, Superior Civilian Service Award, Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal, ERDC’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technology Transfer, UPR’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and was twice recognized by Hispanic Business magazine as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States.