People Spotlight: Meet Leighton Wong
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are highlighting a program manager from our Environment business and providing an insight into their inspiration and work.
Leighton Wong manages the Comprehensive Long-Term Environmental Action Navy (CLEAN) contract for the Pacific Region. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering science. With more than 45 years of experience in environmental restoration and engineering that includes senior leadership roles at Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Pacific, he has helped advance the United States Navy’s environmental mission. Following his retirement from NAVFAC Pacific, Leighton served as Senior Project Manager and Business Development Lead at CH2M, working with Navy, Army, Air Force, and federal agencies across the Pacific. At AECOM, he brings a unique perspective shaped by having served as both a client and contractor.
Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.
I originally joined the environmental industry because it was a growing field that interested me, with opportunities right out of school. I interned on a hazardous waste project in Waterloo, Iowa, and they could see the pending environmental regulations and had me help to start their program. That experience directly led to my next step: when I applied for a job with the Navy, they brought me on to work in hazardous waste just as regulations were coming into effect. I got in on the ground floor, and it was a great opportunity to make a real impact and improve the quality of life for everyone.
I still remember my second day working with the Navy. I was asked to join two University of Hawaii researchers on a boat. As we entered the harbor, debris floated around us and the water smelled. It was a clear sign that work needed to be done.
Nearly 20 years later, I returned to that same harbor — this time with the Regional Commander, hosting a congressional staff member. As the boat moved, water splashed on my face. I looked down and saw something remarkable: clean water and fish swimming below. I even ate my lunch right there, despite the splashing. That moment stayed with me. It was truly full circle to witness how much progress had been made, as the Navy’s cleanup efforts had transformed the harbor and returned property for productive use by both the Navy and other organizations.
When I applied for a job with the Navy, they brought me on to work in hazardous waste just as regulations were coming into effect. I got in on the ground floor, and it was a great opportunity to make a real impact and improve the quality of life for everyone.
What is your favorite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why?
A project that stands out to me is one of my first after joining AECOM, during the pandemic. We had teams sent to Guam for fieldwork, but there was a 14-day quarantine. That meant arriving, staying in a hotel, and not being able to leave. It was challenging, not just logistically, but for keeping projects moving. We pushed our teams to think differently, asking if some could remain longer on Guam to take care of follow-up work so we wouldn’t have to send new personnel and restart the quarantine. It was about keeping work going and minimizing costs for the client, and it took a lot of problem solving.
Eventually, I reached out to a contact from my Navy days to ask if exemptions to the quarantine were possible. While none had been granted to date, when we discussed the specific project, he told me, “That’s on my radar. It might be the most important project right now in the entire Pacific.” We solved the problem together and got the project done successfully. That experience taught me the value of thinking outside the box, solving problems creatively and building strong relationships.
We pushed our teams to think differently, asking if some could remain longer on Guam to take care of follow-up work so we wouldn’t have to send new personnel and restart the quarantine. It was about keeping work going and minimizing costs for the client, and it took a lot of problem solving.
What makes working on the Navy’s CLEAN program unique compared to other projects you’ve been part of?
I worked with the Navy’s CLEAN program for many years, and even after retiring from the Navy, I’m fortunate to continue that work now with AECOM. It’s rewarding to keep contributing to a program that makes a real difference and to support the Navy’s mission of environmental stewardship. The Navy has always felt like part of my family, and being able to continue advancing their work is something I truly value.
The CLEAN program began around 1990, when Congress began funding all the services to investigate and clean up environmentally challenged sites. Prior to that date, there were no environmental laws like we have today. Now, we understand how contamination affects people, wildlife and the environment. The Navy is committed to meeting today’s environmental standards and properly managing hazardous waste. CLEAN funding allows us to return to those older, potentially contaminated sites, investigate them and clean them up, so they are safe for the environment and for the people who live and work there.
For me, CLEAN is about more than compliance. It is about leaving a lasting, positive legacy. We’re always learning about new emerging chemicals and constituents. The good news is that as technology evolves, we can deliver cleaner air and water to everyone. Every generation gets better at improving quality of life and providing safer water and air for all. I’m proud to have worked on it for decades and honored to keep contributing to it today through AECOM.
It’s rewarding to keep contributing to a program that makes a real difference and to support the Navy’s mission of environmental stewardship. For me, CLEAN is about more than compliance. It is about leaving a lasting, positive legacy. We’re always learning about new emerging chemicals and constituents.
Share a piece of career advice.
My advice is to embrace every opportunity. This work is fantastic because it allows you to contribute to something bigger — helping improve the standard of living for everyone in the world.