MURIEL B OWSER
MAYOR
December 15, 2023
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of
the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman M endelson:
In accordance with section
2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142;
D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2853.06(e), I am pleased
to nominate the following individual:
Mr. Michael J .
Jelen
Rittenhouse Street, NW
Washington, DC 20015
(Ward 4)
for
appointment as a professional engineer licensed in the District member of the Board of Professional
Engineering, filling a vacant
seat formerly held by Paul Rich, for a term to end January 19, 2026.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor --------------------- -- ----
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at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the appointment
of Michael J. Jelen to the Board of Professional Engineering.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
resolution may be cited as the "Board
of Professional Engineering Michael J. Jelen Confirmation
Resolution
of 2023 ".
Sec. 2. The Council
of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
Mr. Michael J. Jelen
Rittenhouse Street, NW
Washington, DC 20015
(Ward 4)
as a professional engineer licensed in the District member of the Board of Professional
Engineering, established by D.C. Official
Code§ 47-2853.06(e), filling a vacant seat formerly
held by Paul Rich, for a term to end January
19, 2026.
Sec.
3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
upon its adoption,
to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
Sec.
4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. Michael J. Jelen, PE, F.ASCE
Education, Credentials
•B.Sc. Civil Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
•U.S. Army Command & General Staff College
•UCLA Leadership Development Program Certificate
•Licensed Professional Engineer: DC, VA, IL
Associations
President of the Board, American Council of Engineering Companies of Metropolitan
Washington, 2017-2018
•Launched DC political action committee.
•Re-invigorated the Facilities committee, with a dozen new members.
•Solidified Transportation committee programs with all three states.
•Improved attendance at revenue generating industry networking events.
Steering Committee – National Complete Streets Coalition, 2014-2022
•Member of Multi-Modal Development and Delivery (M2D2) training cadre.
•Safe Streets Academy curriculum developer and instructor.
•Tennessee and Colorado Complete Streets Consortium workshop facilitator.
Transportation Research Board – AECOM’s TRB Annual Meeting event organizer and
primary point of contact, 2014-2016.
DC Local Host Committee - Rail~Volution, 2012
Fellow – American Society of Civil Engineers. Elected in 2020.
Member (current and past) - Society of American Military Engineers (Past-President, Illini Post);
American Public Transportation Association; Institute of Transportation Engineers, American
Planning Association, Urban Land Institute.
Professional History
Marine Tiger Technologies (MTT)| Washington, DC | May 2023 – ongoing
CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT – HEAD OF DELIVERY
MTT is a small, disadvantaged, woman-owned business that provides management and
technology consulting to public agencies with large, asset-intensive capital and operating requirements. As Head of Delivery, responsible for implementing standards and procedures
across a growing portfolio of projects throughout the US, and accountable for the profit/loss and
customer satisfaction for everything that MTT delivers.
WSP USA Inc. | Washington, DC | August 2022 -March 2023
PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT II
US Southeast Region Program Management & Construction Management business line
principal. Responsible for profit, loss, quality, safety and all meaningful KPIs or a roughly 300-
person business. Recruit, hire and provide ongoing coaching to program directors. Personally
involved in the largest and most complex programs including the Miami-Dade County Public
Schools, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise CIP, and supporting as a subject matter expert programs
lead by other business lines such as Hampton-Roads Bridge Tunnel, Long Bridge and WMATA
facilities.
AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Washington, DC | December 2019 – August 2022
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT (Oct 2021)
VICE PRESIDENT (Dec 2019)
US East Regional Business Line Leader for the Program and Project Management Business
Line. Responsible for profit, loss, quality, safety and all meaningful KPIs. Recruit, hire and
provide ongoing coaching to program directors and market focused business development
managers. Representative programs included the Broward County FL Schools, Dekalb County
GA Schools, DC Department of General Services, DC Courts, City of Richmond, Herbert Hoover
Dike reconstruction, Palm Beach County FL Schools, British Embassy of Washington, several
GSA Regions 2-4 Courthouses, Savannah Harbor Dredging, University of Maryland project
management, Doral and Ft Lauderdale FL Parks Bond projects, and several confidential private
sector clients. Provided executive oversight and leadership to 300 staff and major program
teams on the east coast.
AECOM Arabia | Riyadh, SA | June-November 2019
PROJECT DIRECTOR, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF MUNICIPAL
PROJECTS
Directed the start-up and constitution of a new national level organization that will provide
stewardship and oversight of $20BB USD in nationally funded municipal infrastructure and
public building projects. The organization will establish, for the first time ever, 5-year
constrained infrastructure and municipal project planning for all 242 municipalities in the
kingdom. AECOM will also establish new, 21st century public realm and infrastructure planning,
design and construction doctrine, and build up the Enterprise Content Management System,
Project Management Information and Reporting System and roll these out to the 17 provincial
and 242 municipal governments. Contract Value roughly $65MM USD.
WSP - Baltimore City Department of Transportation| Baltimore, MD | March-May 2019
INDEPENDENT PROJECT EXECUTIVE, BMORE BRIGHT PROJECT Temporary management consulting service (as a pass through on a WSP contract), seconded to
the Office of the Director, Baltimore City DOT. Served as a counselor/trusted advisor to the
Director and C-Suite regarding the delivery of an innovative Energy Savings Performance
Contract (ESPC) to convert the city’s 75,000 streetlights to LED and use the cost savings to fund
the installation of additional lighting in high-crime areas.
DC Department of General Services | Washington, DC | March 2018-March 2019
CHIEF PROJECT DELIVERY OFFICER (Excepted Service)
Appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser to the DGS C-Suite, as a key leader in the agency executive
team. Responsible for delivering all capital projects for DC Public Schools, homeless shelters
and city owned family housing, and developing the new Hospital. Delivered close to $400MM in
Schools on-time, the first three city owned Short-term Family Housing facilities and closed the
DC General shelter. Updated the agency Project Delivery Guidelines and reorganized the team
to align with it. Modernized the standard contract provisions for A/E Services. Developed a
Project Manager training series, accredited for professional development hours. Created a Value
Engineering team based on SAVE doctrine. Mentored senior managers. Lead an independent
Quality Assurance of the Facilities Division summer work order effort, paving the way for
improvements in the agency work order business process.
VHB | Washington, DC | September 2016 – December 2017
PRINCIPAL/VICE PRESIDENT & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Joined VHB to create a new organizational unit – the National Capital District, charged with
establishing three offices in the DC area. VHB is a full-service planning, urban design,
engineering, land development and environmental science firm, based in Boston. Our vision was
to grow VHB’s contributions to the DC region to be equal or greater than those in New England.
Left the unit stronger and significantly more diverse, establishing a recruiting pipeline with the
Georgetown University Urban Planning program and with it VHB’s first ever licensed landscape
architecture/urban design team in the area, doubling the land development team, and growing
the planning team from two to ten staff.
Project highlights included serving on the advisory team to DMPED Walter Reed Local
Redevelopment Authority, directing the Crystal City to National Airport Feasibility Study, and
leading management consulting work for several small cities in New England; as well as
providing compliance and stakeholder strategy for the Union Station and Long Bridge EIS.
AECOM | Washington, DC | July 2014 – Sept 2016 VICE PRESIDENT
AECOM | Arlington, VA | March 2010 – July 2014 ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT
From 2010-2013, lead the integration of four distinct corporate brands (TAMS, DMJM-Harris,
DMJM Aviation, and KPMG Consult) into a single AECOM identity in the Metro DC area, by
establishing a new office at Arlington Courthouse. Grew the office from 36 staff to over 90. In
FY’14 promoted to VP, given full P&L responsibilities and initiated the integration over 200 staff
across Virginia, including Arlington, Richmond, Norfolk and Roanoke (including staff from
additional legacy firms HSMM and Earthtech). Achieved the business unit financial plan and was recognized as a leader in innovation including a DC Water Green Infrastructure Challenge
award, and two ACEC National Engineering Excellence Awards.
Starting in 2015, served as DC Metro Region client account program executive for all design
and consulting services and a member of AECOM’s Global Cities client account leadership
team. Also moderated the Surface Transportation Technical Practice Network, a world-wide
information sharing forum and venue for certifying quality assurance review leaders in all offices
offering surface transportation planning and design services.
Project highlights included serving as principal site engineer for the Eisenhower National
Memorial, capture manager and project director for all DDOT work including 27 task orders with
$18MM CV, capture manager and Project Director for all FHWA Eastern Federal Lands work,
project director for VDRPT Planning IDIQ, JV board member and project director for the Silver
Line Phase 1 GEC, JV board alternate for the DCA Terminal B/C Expansion Program, and
leading the capture team for the $430MM South Capitol Street Corridor Design-Build.
District Department of Transportation/ Washington, DC/ September 2008 – February 2010
CHIEF, STREETCAR DIVISION
PROGRAM MANAGER/INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION
After returning from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) military mobilization, brought to
completion several projects started previously– including the ULI Award Winning Columbia
Heights Streetscape, which was a successful collaboration with the Deputy Mayor and Parks &
Rec., and the 14
th
Street Bridge rehabilitation design. In March 2009, took on citywide roles in
developing and delivering the ARRA “Stimulus” Program, and in establishing the first citywide
Streetcar Program Office. Earned great respect amongst partner agencies.
US Army Corps of Engineers/ Washington, DC/September 2007 – September 2008
ASSISTANT G3 DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Presidential military mobilization for Operation Enduring Freedom. Military planner and action
officer for the Deputy Commanding General in development of the G37 Training and Exercises
branch and acted as the first command level exercise officer. Principal author of the first
worldwide command training guidance for contingency design and construction teams. From
Washington, assisted in Command oversight of the Iraqi Reconstruction effort, including direct
involvement in program level decisions. During national emergencies, I assisted or ran
operations in the Headquarters USACE Operations Center, and occasionally in the field. Change
champion for Readiness XXI Reorganization Initiative, helping to drive integration of the military
and civil emergency response and recovery teams, a role that required frequent liaison and
visits to numerous worldwide Corps locations to help in instilling a common vision and attitude
toward the integration effort.
District Department of Transportation/ Washington, DC/ June 2005 – September 2007
PROGRAM MANAGER - WARDS 1 & 2 Recruited directly by then agency Director to take over the most struggling of the four program
delivery teams in the city. As an additional duty, served as the DC member of the Interagency
Working Group on the National Mall Transportation System. Grew the program from 18
employees and $9MM/year in delivered projects to 40 employees and over $100MM in active
projects, including the Georgetown Waterfront Park, the LeDroit Park Streetscape, 18th
Street/Adams Morgan Streetscape, Reopening Champlain Street under Marie Reed School,
DuPont Circle Underpass reconstruction, 11 St. Bridge SW over CSX, 14th Street Bridge
Rehabilitation, 9th Street Bridge over I-395, Sherman Avenue Road Diet, Lower Georgia Avenue
Bus Lanes, MPD Hot Spots and Historic Alleys programs, and the Thomas Circle and Wisconsin
Avenue Bridge Historic Preservation projects which won the Mayor's Award for Historic
Preservation in separate years. Delivered the asset management program in the Wards via
several IDIQ contracts, clearing a 5-year funding backlog. Also, as part of the matrix organization
of the Department at the time, held the additional duty of uniting all the ward-based delivery
activities across all the Department’s administrations, including cross-training forestry, public
space and construction inspectors, and representing transportation in the Mayor’s inter-agency
service delivery teams. Directly engaged with City Council, developers and other agency staff
especially Planning and Environment.
National Defense University/ Ft. McNair, DC/2001 – 2005 (4 years)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING (Major, O-4)
Voluntary recall to Active Duty in response to a direct request from the University. Facilities
program manager for the University’s geographic Regional Centers, including officer in charge
of the Africa Center headquarters construction project. The Africa Center project involved
gutting and rehabilitating an 1838 historic property and placing an addition increasing the overall
building by one third. Presented the project to NCPC and CFA and coordinated closely with DC-
HPO. Hosted the NCPC executive retreat at the War College. Developed a solid reputation with
CFA and DC-HPO staff with relationships that have lasted.
Also, member of the project leadership team for the $120MM design-build campus expansion
project, which included real estate acquisition of 13 acres via eminent domain, and the delivery
of a new access control point, conference center and 200,000 square foot staff office building.
As an additional duty, served as liaison with DC Government, including the Southwest ANC,
DDOT and the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative.
US Army Corps of Engineers/various locations/ May 1989 – September 2012
RESERVE OFFICER. Retired as Lt. Colonel in 2012. Highlights relevant to my civilian career
include:
•Designed and administered construction of training facilities for the Jordanian military
•Developed a civil-military cooperation program in Illinois; including construction of a
soccer complex, rehabilitation of a Boy Scour camp, and partial reconstruction of the
Elam House for the Center for New Horizons CDC on Chicago’s South Side •Lead Reserve Center facility environmental compliance assessments in the Virginias
•Volunteered for a contingency tour of active duty to help rebuild the New Orleans
hurricane protection system after Katrina
•Staff officer for the Office of the Chief of Engineers, Pentagon
•Program Manager for the US Pacific Command, Defense and Environmental
Cooperation program, including deputy event manager for the first multi-national Pacific
Environmental Security Conference of the 21 Century
MILITARY DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal*, Army Commendation
Medal*, Army Achievement Medal* (with Silver Oak Leaf), Army Reserve Achievement Medal
(with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Armed Forces Service Medal*, Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), Armed Forces Reserve
Medal (with “Mobilization” Device), Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon, Army Superior
Unit Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
*= Award for professional engineering or construction
SELECTED AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS
Richmond 300. American Planning Association Daniel Burnham Award for Best Comprehensive
Plan. 2021. Role: executive oversight of consultant team.
DC Public Schools COVID-19 HVAC Upgrades. Construction Management Association of
America, Project of the Year, 2021. Role: client manager and executive oversight of team.
Crystal City to National Airport (CC2DCA) Pedestrian Connection Feasibility Study - ASLA
Potomac Chapter Merit Award, AIA National Capital Chapter Merit Award 2018. Role: principal-
in-charge of the consultant team.
River Smart Washington – ACEC National Recognition Award (2016), DDOT Chief Engineer’s
Award for Environment & Sustainability (2014), Committee of 100 on the Federal City Vision
Award (2012). Role: principal-in-charge.
Rte. 50/Courthouse Rd. Interchange and Multi-Modal Enhancements – ACEC National
Recognition Award (2015) Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance Best Large Project
Award (2015). Role: principal-in-charge.
27
th
Street Bridge over Broad Branch – ACEC-MW Engineering Excellence Award (2017) FHWA
Highways for LIFE Award (2013). Role: principal-in-charge.
31
st
Street Bridge over C&O Canal – DC Water Green Infrastructure Challenge Winner (2014).
Role: principal-in-charge. RECENT PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
“Design for Sustainability in Saudi Arabia,” 99
th
Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research
Board. Washington, DC. January 2020.
“Transit Considerations for Complete Streets – a webinar,” Safe Streets/Smart Cities Academy.
Washington DC. April 2019.
“Planning and Design for Transit,” Colorado Complete Streets Consortium. Aurora, CO. April 23,
2018.
“Funding Complete Streets,” Tennessee Complete Streets Consortium. Knoxville TN. January
17, 2018.
“Creative Engagement for Safe Streets,” Safe Streets Academy. Lexington, KY. November 8,
2017.
“Complete Streets 2.0” (panelist) American Society of Landscape Architects Annual
Conference. Los Angeles, CA, October 2017.
“Public-private partnerships success story: Walter Reed Local Redevelopment Authority,” a
Smart Growth America Webinar, October 2017.
“Completing the Trip Sustainably” (Moderator and opening presenter), American Public
Transportation Association Sustainability and Multi-Modal Operations Workshop. Minneapolis,
MN, August 2017.
“Making Access to Transit Easier” (Moderator and opening presenter), American Public
Transportation Association Rail Conference. Baltimore, MD. June 2017.
“Complete Streets and Complete Trip” (Moderator and opening presenter), American Public
Transportation Association Bus and Paratransit Conference. Reno, NV. May 2017.
“Artful Infrastructure: Arlington Boulevard and Courthouse Rd, VA” Co-author, 2016
International Bridge Conference, National Harbor, MD. June 2016.
“Insights and Anecdotes on the ASCE Report Card for DC’s Infrastructure,” ASCE National
Capital Chapter Centennial Conference, National Press Club, Washington, DC. June 2016.
“What I Wish I Knew” panel discussion at the Annual Meeting of the American Planning
Association, Phoenix, AZ, April 2016. Also repeated via nationwide webcast in May 2016.
“Complete Streets: Lessons Learned from three states,” ASHE Chesapeake and ITE Mid-
Colonial Section Joint Technical Conference, Baltimore, MD, September 2015.
“The Last Mile: Panel Discussion for Transit Professionals” (Moderator and opening presenter)
Annual Meeting of the American Public Transit Association, San Francisco, CA. October 2015 “APTA’s Role in the National Complete Streets Coalition” (moderator and plenary discussion
facilitator) American Public Transportation Association, Environmental Workshop, Portland, OR,
August 2015.
Revising the Vermont State Standards (workshop facilitator), Smart Growth America, 2015
Florida Complete Streets Implementation Plan (workshop facilitator), Smart Growth America,
2015.
“Highway Project Meets Tough Challenges: Design Improvements to Virginia Highway
Streamline Two Complex Interchanges,” Governing Magazine, March-April 2015.
“Case Study: Implementation of GRS-IBS for the 27th Street Bridge, Washington, DC.” National
Accelerated Bridge Conference, Florida International University. Miami, FL, December 2014.
“Managed Lanes: Past, Present and Future,” Emerging Topics in Transportation Conference,
American Council of Engineering Companies. Washington, DC, August 2014.
“Case Study: Implement Permeable Pavements to Improve Infrastructure Sustainability,” 93rd
Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board. Washington, DC, January 2014.
“Fortress Georgetown: An Outsider’s Perspective on Mobility,” Georgetown Business
Improvement District Executive Retreat. Washington, DC, May 2013.
“Maryland Avenue Air Rights Development,” Planning the Future of Federal Triangle South,
Urban Land Institute/National Capital Planning Commission. Washington, DC, March 2013.
“ISO-9001 Quality Assurance Programs,” American Council of Engineering Companies/DDOT
Joint Session. Washington, DC, September 2012.
“DoD Facility Planning Alongside Metropolitan Planning Organizations,” NDIA Environment,
Energy and Sustainability Symposium. New Orleans, LA. May 24, 2012.
Pacific Environmental Security Conference. Deputy Event Coordinator. Honolulu, HI. March
2011
“Alternative Energy as an Engagement Opportunity in the Pacific AOR,” NDIA Environment,
Energy and Sustainability Symposium. Denver, CO. June 16, 2010. Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Michael J. Jelen
Mr. Michael J. Jelen, PE, FASCE is a DC-based engineering and
construction industry executive, with over three decades’ experience.
He is a past President of the Board of Directors of the American Council
of Engineering Companies of Metropolitan Washington. He served on
the Steering Committee of the National Complete Streets Coalition from
2013 to 2022 and is currently active in the Planning and Policy
committee of the American Public Transportation Association, and as a
Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Mr. Jelen is currently Executive Vice President at SZ PM Consultants,
Inc. a DC-based Certified Business Enterprise that provides civil
engineering and related management services. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of
AECOM, a Fortune 500 Design and Construction firm, as well as the President of its local
subsidiary, AECOM Services of DC. His noteworthy contributions to our city with AECOM
include leadership roles in the new Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge, the Eisenhower
Memorial, DC Schools construction management portfolio, DC Courts CIP, the National Park
Service NCR Headquarters renovation, reconstruction of the DC Water Soldier’s Home reservoir,
and rehabilitation of the 14th Street Bridge, the Key Bridge and Oregon Avenue. He has held
program management and leadership positions with three state governments, including DC, and
retired as a reserve Lt. Colonel from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
His active-duty military experience included several years as the Assistant Director of Engineering
at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair, DC. He was program manager for improvements
for the University’s regional centers, and the civil engineer member of the leadership team for the
13-acre campus expansion and design-build of a new 200,000 square foot facility on 2nd St SW.
He also represented the District in military mobilizations for Operation Enduring Freedom, and
Task Force Guardian: New Orleans Hurricane Protection System Restoration Program.
He is a frequent speaker at design and engineering industry events. Recent appearances have
included national meetings the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Planning
Association, the American Public Transportation Association, and the 100th anniversary
celebration of the DC Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was also a founding
member of the Safe Streets/Smart Cities Academy and developed and delivered transit related
courses to states and cities across the country.
Mr. Jelen is a long- time DC resident who is active in our community. In 1999, he was awarded a
certificate of recognition from the Metropolitan Police Department for his leadership in
establishing a Partnerships for Problem Solving program in Ward 6. His wife is co- owner of a DC
based CBE lighting business.
A Ward 4 resident, Mr. Jelen earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Tomas Talamante, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: November 15, 2023
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution nominating Michael J. Jelen as a member
of the Board of Professional Engineering
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above- referenced resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-
724-1303, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish