Dwight Head, P.E., Engineer, M&E Consultants
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Engineering, Texas Tech University
Current Licenses and Registration, other Affiliations:
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, License No. 60794
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
National Society of Professional Engineers
Soil and Water Conservation Society
Years Experience:
M&E Consultants: Since 2009
USDA-NRCS: 1974-2008
Field and Area Engineer: 1974-1986
District Conservationist: 1986-2002
Zone Engineer: 2002-2009
Specialized Training:
Hydrology and hydraulics for earthen channels, dams, irrigation and livestock pipelines,
terrace systems, diversions, and grass lined waterways. Training also included the
design of irrigation and precision land leveling, grade stabilization structures, irrigation
systems, surface and subsurface drainage systems, and livestock water development.
Specialized training also covered Conservation Planning, conservation contract
development and administration, comprehensive nutrient management plans, and waste
utilization systems.
Experience and Qualifications:
Zone Engineer, NRCS, Zone 3, Corpus Christi (2002-2009)
This position provided engineering leadership for 52 counties in South Texas. Typical
engineering practices included ponds, diversions, grassed waterways, parallel terrace
systems, grade stabilization structures, irrigation and livestock pipelines, irrigation and
precision land leveling, irrigation systems using graded furrows, graded borders, drip,
sprinklers, or contour levee (rice) systems. Technical oversight was provided to five
NRCS Field Engineers in the Zone. The position also required state-wide coordination
with four other zone engineers and the state engineering staff. Involvement in the flood
control programs required formal inspections of high hazard dams and review of hazard
classifications of all flood control dams. Quality assurance activities and training
requirements were coordinated by this position.
District Conservationist, Beeville Field Office (1986-2002)
This position provided leadership for the conservation program in Bee County. The
position included assisting with the conservation programs in the Goliad and Kennedy
Field Offices, as part of the Kennedy Resource Team. Work involved Conservation
Planning with landowners. This included the inventory and analysis of the current
available resources and the landowner’s objectives, formulating and recommending
alternatives to the landowner, documenting the landowner’s decisions, and follow
through with the application of the Plan. Engineering practices included waterways,
parallel terraces, diversions, ponds and critical area planting.
Area and Field Engineer, NRCS, Pampa Area (1977-1986)
This position provided assistance to 12 counties in the Texas panhandle. There was
extensive engineering involvement in furrow and sprinkler irrigation systems, and in
grade stabilization structures. Irrigation systems were evaluated for efficiency and
recommendations for improvements were provided to the irrigator. This included
evaluations of the pumping plant and application system of furrows or sprinklers. Grade
stabilization structures included dams with principal spillways of corrugated metal
hooded inlets and pipe drop inlets, and rock gabion structures. Engineering assistance
was also provided to cattle feedlots in the design of waste utilization systems. Other
engineering practices included waterways, diversions, and parallel terraces. The
position was responsible for quality assurance activities involving engineering practices.
Agricultural Engineer, NRCS, Victoria Area (1976-1977)
This position provided engineering assistance primarily to six field offices in the Victoria
Area. Engineering practices included grade stabilization structures for county roads,
ponds, parallel terrace systems, and waterways. Assistance was also provided for
erosion control on recreational areas, such as school grounds and parks. Spot checks of
engineering practices were performed for quality assurance documentation.
Agricultural Engineer, NRCS, San Benito, Raymondville, and Weslaco Field
Offices, Harlingen Area (1974-1975)
This position provided engineering assistance to the field offices in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley. Engineering practices included drip and furrow irrigation systems, and
subsurface drainage systems with free flowing outlets, sump pump collection systems
and pumped well drains. Irrigation land leveling was used extensively. The subsurface
drainage systems were used to control high water tables and saline soil conditions.