PALMDALE – Palmdale’s City Engineer/Assistant Director of Public Works Chuck Heffernan has been elected president of the High Desert Branch of the Southern California Division of the American Public Works Association (APWA).
Heffernan, who was previously the group’s vice-president, will serve a two-year term.
“It truly is an honor to have been selected to serve in this capacity for an organization like APWA that does so much in bringing various public and private entities together for the common good of our communities,” said Heffernan.
The purpose of the APWA is to advance the theory and practice of the design, construction, maintenance, administration, and operation of public works facilities and services; promote improved practices in public works administration; encourage high professional standards; and promote cooperation among all public, quasi-public, and private persons, firms, corporations, bodies, utilities, and agencies which have interests in the field of public works.
Heffernan has served as the City of Palmdale’s City Engineer since August of 2009. As City Engineer, he oversees the Engineering Division within the Department of Public Works and also holds the title of Assistant Director in that Department. His office oversees the public works and development plan review services and public works inspection services, the implementation of the City’s drainage master plan and flood plain management ordinance, special district administration, implementation of engineering design standards, and public works permitting. The Traffic Engineering and Building and Safety Divisions also report to the Assistant Director of Public Works.
Prior to joining the City of Palmdale, Heffernan managed design and construction in the development industry on many commercial, residential and large-scale public works projects. He also owned and managed a civil engineering consulting firm through the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s.
Heffernan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and has held a professional engineer’s license from the State of California since 1986. He also holds a license as a general engineering contractor (A) in the State of California.
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