Katherine Hammack: Academy of Distinguished Engineers - 2012

Assistant Secretary of the Army Installations, Energy and Environment Department of Defense, United States Army | Washington, D.C 

Katherine Hammack spent the first three decades of her career in the private sector as an energy and sustainability consultant. More recently, she was a leader in climate change and sustainability services at Ernst & Young, and is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C. Hammack’s life changed dramatically on June 28, 2010, when President Barack Obama appointed her as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment.

“I have policy and oversight for small forward operating bases in Afghanistan to large permanent bases in Texas,” says Hammack. “These are cities in which our soldiers and families live and work. With over 15 million acres of land and almost one billion square feet of buildings, my engineering and sustainability education enables me to ensure that the Army appropriately stewards our nation’s resources.”

After graduating from Oregon State, Hammack earned an MBA in marketing from the University of Hartford. “Oregon State gave me the foundation to work in a collaborative team environment,” says Hammack. “Teams made up of individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and interests opened my eyes to alternatives. The more diverse the team, the better the decisions.”