People Spotlight: Meet Patrick Willis
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are highlighting an associate vice president, Dams & Hydropower project manager, and Growth and Strategy Lead from our Water business in the U.S. West region and providing an insight into their inspiration and work.
Patrick Willis is a skilled project manager and civil engineer with over 18 years of planning, design and construction experience working on dam and hydropower projects and leading interdisciplinary project teams. He is passionate about transformative projects that balance infrastructure development with environmental stewardship. Whether it’s rehabilitating critical dams, modernizing hydropower systems, or pioneering pumped storage projects, he is inspired by the potential to make a lasting impact on communities.
Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.
I’m originally from rural Vermont, where my passion for engineering began. My father, a geotechnical engineer, ran a small engineering business, and from a young age I helped him around the office and did field work, surveying, and geotechnical investigations. My love for math, science and the outdoors led me to pursue a degree in environmental engineering at Tufts University. Combining these interests has been at the core of my career ever since.
AECOM has allowed me to merge my focus on the environment and sustainability with infrastructure development. Our work in hydropower and pumped storage aligns with my personal goals, especially as the pumped storage market plays a critical role in the energy transition. It provides the long-duration energy storage needed to bring more wind and solar power online, and I’m excited to contribute to this important effort.
Our work in hydropower and pumped storage aligns with my personal goals, especially as the pumped storage market plays a critical role in the energy transition.
What is your favorite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why?
One of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on at AECOM is the proposed Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project in eastern Kentucky. This 287-megawatt project, led by Rye Development, is more than just an engineering challenge; it’s a symbol of transformation. Coal industry jobs in southeastern Kentucky have sustained a significant loss in the transition away from coal, creating a significant economic impact. This project is located on a former coal mining site and will repurpose impacted land to bring economic revitalization to the community. At the same time, it’s playing a critical role in our energy transition, enabling more renewable energy to come online.
As the project manager, I’m leading a talented team of 50 individuals through the preliminary design phase. This project represents a long-term commitment to sustainability and community impact. I’m incredibly proud to be part of an effort that addresses economic, environmental, and energy challenges all at once.
The Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project is located on a former coal mining site and will repurpose impacted land to bring economic revitalization to the community. At the same time, it’s playing a critical role in our energy transition, enabling more renewable energy to come online.
Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
My work at AECOM often intersects with meaningful community impact, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Dam Safety Program is a great example. This BIA Dam Safety program oversees the safety of approximately 140 high-hazard dams on tribal lands. We’ve supported the BIA for several years with a dedicated team based in Denver, and I serve as the overall program manager.
Many of these dam structures are over a century old and in need of critical rehabilitation. There is limited information available on them, and many have been neglected over time, posing significant risks, including potential failure that could devastate downstream communities. Through this program, my team and I support the BIA to assess, prioritize, and design improvements for these dams, ensuring safety for tribal communities and preserving vital infrastructure.
This BIA Dam Safety program oversees the safety of approximately 140 high-hazard dams on tribal lands. Through this program, my team and I support the BIA to assess, prioritize, and design improvements for these dams, ensuring safety for tribal communities and preserving vital infrastructure.
Share a piece of career advice.
One piece of advice I always share with younger team members is this: whatever task you’re given, especially by leaders that you look up to, knock it out of the park. Develop a reputation of dependability. Delivering excellence, no matter how small or large the task, builds trust and opens doors to new opportunities. It’s something I’ve tried to practice throughout my career, and it’s a principle that has served me well in building relationships and advancing in this field.