Christopher O. Ward — Senior Vice President and Chief Executive of Metro New York at AECOM

Mr. Christopher O. Ward, also known as Chris, has been Senior Vice President and Chief Executive of Metro New York of AECOM since May 26, 2015. In this role, Mr. Ward leading strategic growth and profitability of the Design and Consulting Services group in the New York City Metro area. Mr. Ward serves as the President of Port Authority's wholly owned entities: the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation, the Newark Legal and Communications Center Urban Renewal Corporation and the New York and New Jersey Railroad Corporation. Mr. Ward served as Managing Director of the General Contractors Association of New York, Inc. for two years. He served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of American Stevedoring, Inc. He served as an Executive Vice President for major projects at Dragados USA, where he was responsible for significant business development throughout the United States. From 2002 to 2005, he served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which is responsible for protecting the environmental health, welfare and natural resources of New York City and its residents. He served as the Chief of Planning and External Affairs of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 1997 to 2002, where he also served as its Director of Port Development. Prior to that, he served as Director of Business Development of American Stevedoring, Inc., Senior Vice President for Transportation and Commerce of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Telecommunications and Energy and Director of Research of the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. He serves as Member of Board of Trustees of American Red Cross in Greater New York. His 30-plus-year career in infrastructure and government comprises experience in both the public and the private sectors, including a successful tenure at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey where he led the effort on the World Trade Center project and executed the turnaround at the site by implementing creative engineering solutions - delivering on a commitment to open the 9/11 Memorial by the 10th anniversary. He served as Executive Director of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He served as a Director of The New York Independent System Operator until August 2008. Mr. Ward served as an Adjunct Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Mr. Ward received a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.