Jim Kiel works at the Hydroelectric Design Center (HDC), in the Army Corps of Engineers.  He received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at Oregon State University in Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Business Management.  Prior to working for the Army Corps, he was a US Army Officer, and then worked in private industry in manufacturing and logistics.  Upon graduation from his Master's program, he began work at HDC in the Turbomachinery Section and became a Turbine National Expert.  He then became the Mechanical Systems Chief where he has been working in that capacity for the past eight years.  Currently he is on a developmental assignment as the Hydroelectric Analysis Center Branch Chief within HDC.