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Jodie Inman, a 13-year Portland Water Bureau veteran, recently took over as the department’s chief engineer.

Inman was selected after a competitive process. She is the second woman in the bureau’s 150-year history to serve in the role. Her predecessor, Teresa Elliott, will retire this summer.

鈥淚’m聽honored,鈥� Inman stated in a press release. 鈥淚 think it speaks to the聽efforts聽that the Water Bureau, the city, and the industry are making聽in聽being more inclusive.聽I’m聽thankful to have聽worked in places that have had females in leadership and encouraged growth.

鈥淔or me,聽leadership is聽about building relationships聽and聽seeking to understand people’s perspectives. At some point, a decision needs to be made, but I want to be there for meaningful dialogue.鈥�

Inman has worked on some of the most critical infrastructure projects in the Water Bureau’s recent history, including the Bull Run treatment projects and Willamette River Crossing. Her focus has been on project budgets and affordability.

鈥淭hese projects聽are an聽opportunity to provide reliable and safe drinking water to our customers聽and聽future聽Portlanders,鈥� she stated. 鈥淚 am honored to lead the teams improving seismic resilience, for life聽and聽safety,聽but聽also聽to support economic recovery. I聽will聽ensure聽that we聽have the聽tools to adapt to factors like climate change and future regulations 鈥� not to mention the highly important everyday work of maintaining, repairing, and replacing our aging infrastructure.鈥�

Most recently, Inman served as interim chief engineer for three months.聽Prior to that, she was the engineering manager in the bureau’s design group.