Amy Hribar, Water Resources Engineer, Denver Service Center Transportation Division

What is your name and job title? 

Amy Hribar, Project Specialist with the Denver Service Center (DSC) Transportation Division

Why did you become an engineer? 

Growing up, I gravitated toward math and science and truly enjoyed problem solving and understanding how things worked.  A large part of my life is spent outdoors enjoying nature and when I was looking for a profession it was important to combine those passions.  Civil engineering provided that perfect opportunity. Water resources engineering has allowed me to study rivers, streams, and drainage in the field and imagine solutions and designs for bridges, dams, flooding and infrastructure. This year’s Engineers Week 2022 theme is “Reimagining the Possible”. This theme encompasses what being an engineer truly means.

What is one of your favorite park projects that you've worked on and why? 

This month marks my one-year anniversary working at the National Park Service. Soon after onboarding, I had the opportunity to work on the Biscayne National Park Hurricane Repairs. Hurricane Irma caused damage from wind, erosion and storm surge to many of the park’s assets in 2017.  Shorelines, trails, jetties, boardwalks and docks were in need of repair. It always amazes me how the power of water can impact our environment.  This project aimed to provide more resilient and sustainable design solutions and address sea level rise. Working as a water resource engineer throughout my career, this project was a fascinating project to work on in the discipline that I enjoy.   

How does curiosity and ingenuity play a role in your work?  

I have a saying every project is like a snowflake, no two are the same. One of the hallmark characteristics of an engineer is boundless curiosity about the world, and how things work. Expertise arises from exploring challenges, being brave enough to ask questions, and pursue solutions. Ingenuity in engineering gives us the opportunity to push the boundaries of technology and invent new goals as well as the solutions to achieve them.

What would your advice be to someone interested in an engineering role at the National Park Service? 

 The National Park Service is full of amazing people. They all bring different talents and abilities to preserving the National Park Service mission. If you are a good collaborator, you will be able to offer the best part of you but also get the best part of other people. Throughout our park units, engineering projects are providing accessibility and visitor enjoyment to some of this country’s most amazing landscapes. I think having the ability to implement engineering solutions while protecting our resources is an important quality to being an engineer with the National Park Service.