SACRAMENTO, CA — An internationally recognized expert in consequence assessment, Jason Needham has joined HDR to oversee flood consequence assessments, provide technical leadership, and mentor staff.

As the Flood Consequence Practice Lead, Needham will collaborate across disciplines, support risk-informed decision-making, and deliver solutions to clients for their dam and levee safety projects. He will be based in HDR’s Sacramento, California, office.

Needham has over two decades of experience dedicated to reducing flood risk to communities and property. During his time as Lead Consequence Specialist and a senior member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Risk Management Center, he played a key role in shaping dam and levee safety programs by providing technical oversight, creating methodologies, and driving risk-informed decision-making.

His efforts included developing guidance, training, and documentation for consequence assessments, as well as coordinating approaches for screening, semi-quantitative, and fully quantitative risk assessments to support USACE modification studies.

“Jason’s depth of expertise in flood consequence analysis made him an ideal choice for this role,” said Nathan Pingel, HDR Surface Water Hydrology and Hydraulics Practice Lead. “His contributions have been pivotal in advancing tools like LifeSim, HEC-FIA, and the Dam and Levee Screening Tools, along with shaping industry standards and delivering impactful training programs.”