Mr. Joseph J. Seebode is an Environmental Engineer with more than 35 years of experience in engineering program management, water resource engineering, environmental restoration and remediation, solid waste management, natural resource protection, watershed planning, emergency preparedness and response, and federal and state regulatory programs.
Mr. Seebode serves as the Deputy District Engineer and Chief of Programs and Project Management for the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he manages a diverse team of engineers and scientists in administering programs investing in military construction, civil works, and regional infrastructure improvements.
Mr. Seebode oversees major Civil Works and Military Construction programs in New York, New Jersey and Greenland. He also oversees the New York District’s International, Interagency, and Environmental Services Program, which is performing work for various partners including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the City of New York. He recently took on additional Program Management responsibilities and oversight of $3.2 billion to repair, restore and increase coastal resilience after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Sandy.
His experience includes serving as Program Manager for the multi-billion dollar deepening of the Port of New York and New Jersey to 50 feet, and managing the development and execution of a comprehensive environmental restoration strategy for the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary.
Mr. Seebode served as Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection between 2003 and 2006. As Assistant Commissioner he oversaw a team of over 650 professionals engaged in a wide array of environmental engineering and science activities including evaluating and managing the cleanup of contaminated sites; managing the State of New Jersey’s Brownfield’s Reuse Program, undertaking emergency activities related to discharges of hazardous substances and wastes; managing solid and hazardous waste permitting and planning; and reinvigorating recycling.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Seebode managed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program in the New York District and he was the official Corps liaison to the City of New York in the wake of the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy where he provided technical guidance and expertise during emergency response and restoration activities. He also was on the USACE Leadership Team leading immediate actions in the wake of Hurricane Sandy to include unwatering tunnels and debris removal.
Mr. Seebode is a proud Jasper who earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Manhattan College after graduating from Seton Hall Prep. He has received numerous awards during his career including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civilian of the Year Award, the De Fleury Medal for engineering excellence, the Department of Army Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service, a Presidential Certificate of Merit for lifesaving while on official duty, the Department of Defense Environmental Engineer of the Year Award, and the State of New Jersey's highest Heroism Award. In 2014 he received the Department of the Army’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the Undersecretary of the Army for sustained leadership and excellence, and was inducted into the Seton Hall Prep Athletic Hall of Fame. He was recently recognized with the 2015 Distinguished Executive Award by the New York City Federal Executive Board.