HEC-HMS: Instructors

Amanda J. Hess, P.E., CFM
GFT
Vice-President, Geotechnical, Dams and Hydraulics

Amanda Hess is a vice president and hydrology and hydraulic group manager at GFT Infrastructure, Inc. She holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in civil engineering with a focus in water resources. Over her 25-year career, she has focused on design and application of hydrologic and hydraulic principles for dams. In that role, she has served as the lead hydrologic and hydraulic engineer for numerous spillway modification projects. She has provided supporting consulting services to several state dam safety departments on guidelines and regulations.

Greg Richards, P.E., CFM
GFT
Senior Project Manager

Greg Richards is a senior project Manager and hydraulic and hydrologic engineer at GFT in Bountiful, Utah. He obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Utah State University. He is responsible for the management and execution of hydraulic and hydrologic analyses and design for flood control reservoirs, spillways, outlet works, stilling basins, bridges, and stream channel improvements. Greg has authored or contributed to several dam safety policy documents on both the federal and state levels. These include the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94); Guidelines for Hazard Potential Classification and Inflow Design Flood Selection (including a simplified risk-informed decision-making approach) for the New Mexico Dam Safety Bureau; and Risk-Informed Dam Inspection Guidelines for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. He was the 2017 recipient of ASDSO’s Joseph J. Ellam President’s Award and currently serves as a member of ASDSO’s Advisory and Dam Failure and Incidents committees, leader of the Dam Safety Toolbox Committee, and co-chair of the DamFailures.org Subcommittee.