Technology fellow emeritus C.P. Leslie Grady Jr., P.E., Ph.D. received the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s WEF Technical Exhibition and Conference in New Orleans.  The award honors individuals who have made substantial and measurable engineering, scientific, or operations contributions toward improving water quality through the management or treatment of industrial wastes.

In addition to being a full-time professor for 35 years, Les worked for CH2M HILL part-time for over 20 years until he retired in 2009.  He served as a senior technical consultant on projects involving biological treatment of industrial wastewater.  He has published over 250 publications and reports on biological wastewater treatment, biodegradation, and biodegradation testing.

“Working at CH2M HILL over those 20+ years was one of the high points of my career,” notes Les Grady.  “Not only did it give me experience that I could take back into the classroom, but it gave me many examples of how projects should be run.  Examples of the highly professional manner in which CH2M HILL approached projects were inspiring to the students in my design classes and gave them important guidance as they started their careers.  I will always appreciate the time we spent together.”