Kenneth Burke Named Chief of Staff/General Manager for Rhode Island Water Resources Board

For Release: March 3, 2009
Contact: William J. Penn, (401) 466-2065

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Water Resources Board announces the appointment of Kenneth Burke, P.E. as chief of staff/general manager. He assumed his duties effective March 1.

The Water Resources Board is an executive agency of state government charged with managing the state’s fresh water resources. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that sufficient fresh water is available for all present and future users including the environment.

“We are fortunate to be able to bring Ken on board with his diverse background with the water resources within the State and we look forward to him being the advocate of these resources in his capacity as chief of staff/general manager,” said William Penn, chair of the Water Resources Board. "Ken presented an excellent combination of management skills and technical knowledge to work with all of the stakeholders involved in water supply and water use in the state,” said Pamela M. Marchand, PE, Search Committee and Vice Chair of the Board.

As chief of staff/general manager, Burke will be responsible for implementing the Board’s policies and programs for managing the state’s water resources, including ground water and surface water development and management. He will oversee the Board’s professional and technical staff and consultants, and plan, organize, direct and implement comprehensive strategies and programs for short and long-term management of water resources in Rhode Island.

A professional civil engineer, Burke most recently held the position of capital project manager and development manager for TPG Development in Cranston. He also served as the director of public works for the Town of Westerly and the City of Cranston, and worked as a project engineer for the RI Department of Transportation. He also served as a US Marine in South Weymouth, MA.

Burke earned a B.S. in engineering from the University of Rhode Island, where he is currently completing a Master’s degree in Business Administration. A South Kingstown resident, he is on the board of directors for Welcome House, president of Rhode Island’s USA Soccer League – Men’s Open Competitive League, and a volunteer for Boy Scout Troup 1 in Kingston.