Gary Brunner Joins HDR as Senior Water Resources Technical Advisor

Gary Brunner, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE has joined HDR as a senior water resources technical advisor in HDR's Sacramento, California, office. In this role, he will work with clients and partners to address the challenges of increasing flood risk, stressed water supplies and changing environment. 

“I'm very excited to become part of the HDR water resources team," Brunner said. "I look forward to helping solve many new water-related problems, as well as mentoring young engineers in the firm. I'm sure I will also be able to expand my knowledge by having the opportunity to work with so many talented people at HDR.”

Brunner brings world-renowned experience in developing and applying hydrologic and hydraulic modelling software to solve water management issues. The revolutionary engineering products he has created have transformed the practice of water resources engineering, as well as its research and education. 

During his 36-year career with the Army Corps of Engineers, Brunner helped develop and maintain several pieces of software. He was the original author of HEC-RAS, the most widely used river hydraulics software program in the world. That particular software allows users to perform flow hydraulics calculations, water temperature analysis and several types of modelling. He led the development of HEC-RAS from 1991 to 2021. 

“His profound contributions to the practice of hydrologic engineering have improved the state of the practice, improved the skills of hydrologic and hydraulic engineers and provided ever-improving tools for managing flood risk globally,” said Mark Forest, HDR’s floodplain practice lead. “Gary’s contributions have impacted the lives of people in ways that most are not even aware of.”

Brunner has received numerous awards, most recently ASCE’s Sacramento Section Lifetime Achievement Award, Flood Management Association’s Karl Mohr Distinguished Service Award and American Academy of Water Resource Engineers’ Outstanding Practitioner in Water Resources Engineering Award.