Chad Gillan currently serves as the Chief of Engineering for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Caribbean District, headquartered in Puerto Rico. In this role, he oversees a multi-billion-dollar civil works program supporting military construction, navigation infrastructure, regulatory permitting, emergency response, and international collaborations across the Caribbean region.
Mr. Gillan began his career with the Corps of Engineers in 2013 as a Lead Structural Engineer in the Jacksonville District. He swiftly progressed to Structures Section Chief and then Lead Technical Engineer, where he managed engineering operations for a $3.5 billion emergency funding program spanning the Southeastern U.S. and its territories. He also served as Acting Design Branch Chief, bringing seasoned leadership to large-scale engineering efforts.
Prior to federal service, Mr. Gillan honorably served in the U.S. Navy for three years and spent 15 years in the private sector.
He has led technical responses for critical infrastructure efforts including the reconstruction of the Guajataca Dam spillway and the emergency conversion of the Miami Beach Convention Center into a COVID response hospital.
His core expertise centers on hydraulic structures—covering structural analysis, finite element modeling, civil layout, and the inspection and design of embankment and concrete dams. He brings deep experience in project management, technical specifications development, construction oversight, and engineering support for complex multidisciplinary projects.
Mr. Gillan has authored 10 publications across the Association of Sate Dam Safety Officials, the U.S. Society on Dams, and Water Power Magazine. He holds a Master of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering from the University of Colorado and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Colorado.