Presidents Leadership Forum

Joseph A. “Bud” Ahearn, Senior Vice President of CH2M HILL, Ltd.

Since joining CH2M HILL, Mr. Ahearn has been the firm’s executive sponsor for talent management and leadership development. He has been nationally recognized for his strong interest in these programs and is a frequent guest speaker at client director meetings, universities, and professional society career development programs.

Mr. Joseph “Bud” Ahearn is well known and respected for his executive leadership in the engineering business lines of transportation, environment, water, industrial design, and related infrastructure.

Previously, he served as Vice Chairman of the Board, where he worked in collaboration with business group leaders to effectively represent the firm and was responsible for strategic planning, governmental affairs, strategic communications, and leadership development. During his 16 year career at CH2M HILL, Ahearn has served in several capacities, including as Transportation Business Group President, Eastern Region Manager and Senior Vice President, Federal Programs Director, and Principal-In-Charge for two major transportation corridor projects in California. Today he serves as the Executive Sponsor for the $11 billion U.S. Forces Korea Relocation Program.

Prior to joining CH2M HILL, Mr. Ahearn had a distinguished military career spanning three decades, where he achieved the rank of Major General in the U.S. Air Force. During his 34 years of experience with the Department of Defense, Mr. Ahearn was responsible for shaping strategy, developing budgets, and executing infrastructure programs totaling more than $7 billion annually. As the Senior Civil Engineer for the U.S. Air Force, he directed the development and operations of all U.S. air bases around the world.

In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Mr. Ahearn is an industry and community leader. The impressive list of organizations in which he is actively engaged includes Engineers Without Borders U.S.A., the Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation, the Society of American Military Engineers , American Institute of Architects, American Society of Civil Engineers , and the National Academy of Construction. As a board member of Engineers Without Borders U.S.A., Mr. Ahearn has leveraged his expertise and resources to help the organization grow and establish a platform to strengthen engineering education and performance. He is dedicated to increasing awareness for the need for sustainable systems and services in developing countries.

In addition to numerous military awards, Mr. Ahearn received the Air Force Order of the Sword—the highest honor the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the U.S. Air Force can bestow, the University of Notre Dame College of Engineering Honor Award for professional achievement, the Newman Medal from the Society of American Military Engineers for outstanding military engineering achievement in Europe, the President’s Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, and most recently the Golden Eagle award from the Society of American Military Engineers. He also has been named an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects.