An electrical engineer who led two modernization projects at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s high voltage switchyards has been named Bureau of Reclamation's Engineer of the Year.

Chad Kidd was honored for his work with Reclamation's Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region, Upper Snake River Field Office in Heyburn, Idaho, a news release said.

"I would like to congratulate Chad on being selected as Reclamation's Engineer of the Year," Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said in the release. "Chad's work has been critical in ensuring that construction activities are performed in a timely matter. His focus on safety is ensuring Reclamation can generate hydropower while reducing the hazards that come with that endeavor." 

Kidd led "two successful modernization projects at Reclamation-owned high-voltage switchyards," according to a Feb. 16 Facebook post. He also led “a major arc flash mitigation project that reduced safety hazards at three hydropower generating plants.”

A professional engineer in Idaho, Kidd has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Boise State University. He has worked with the Bureau of Reclamation as an electrical engineer since September 2011. He worked as an electrical engineer for Idaho Power in Boise, Idaho, for two years before joining the Bureau, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“It's a huge honor to receive this award!” Kidd said on LinkedIn. “Thanks to those that put these programs together that recognize the great engineering work done by so many!”