Title: Wastewater Superintendent and Assistant Public Works Director
Company: City of Pendleton
Location: Pendleton, Oregon, United States
Kyle Willman, Wastewater Superintendent and Assistant Public Works Director at the City of Pendleton, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements and leadership in Wastewater Management.
Mr. Willman is recognized for his notable career in public service, environmental management and community leadership, marked by more than two decades of professional experience. In 2024, he began serving as the wastewater superintendent for the City of Pendleton in Pendleton, Oregon, following a lengthy tenure as a wastewater operator technician between 2011 and 2024.
In 2025, Mr. Willman also assumed the role of assistant public works director for the City of Pendleton, overseeing the wastewater treatment plant. His responsibilities include collaborating with operators to establish work schedules, coordinating with the environmental laboratory to set sampling protocols for water and wastewater treatment, conducting performance evaluations for all employees and making critical process decisions regarding plant operations. Mr. Willman’s expertise in wastewater treatment, renewable energy and sustainable energy has been instrumental in advancing the city’s environmental initiatives.
Before working for the city, Mr. Willman was employed as a wind turbine technician with NextEra Energy Resources LLC from 2008 to 2011, where he contributed to renewable energy operations and maintenance. His earlier career also included service as a correctional officer with the State of Oregon Department of Corrections between 2005 and 2008.
Mr. Willman’s professional journey began with military service in the Oregon Army National Guard, where he served until his retirement in 2006. This experience instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and commitment to public service that has informed his subsequent roles.
In preparation for his future, Mr. Willman earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on management and operations from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, completed in 2019. He also holds level four wastewater treatment certification and level two wastewater collection certification from the State of Oregon, credentials that underscore his advanced knowledge and capability within his field. Mr. Willman is currently pursuing an associate’s degree in water quality at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.
Throughout his career, Mr. Willman has remained actively involved in several industry organizations. He has served as the vice president of the collections systems committee for the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association’s Eastern Oregon region from 2015 to 2025 and now serves as president. His contributions to the organization include providing regional leadership and developing best practices within the clean water sector. Mr. Willman is also affiliated with ORACWA.org, the American Public Works Association and the DMCW.
Civic engagement is also central to Mr. Willman’s life. He serves as the president of the Rollin Schimmel Memorial Wrestling Foundation Inc., having previously served as the vice president from 2015 to 2021. He is also active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Exchange Club of Pendleton. In addition to these commitments, he recently became director of Pendleton Round-Up, further demonstrating his dedication to community enrichment. Earlier, Mr. Willman dedicated nearly two decades as a coach at Pendleton Wrestling Club from 2007 to 2024.
Throughout his career with the City of Pendleton, Mr. Willman has played a pivotal role in implementing innovative projects at the wastewater treatment facility. Among his most notable achievements was the Fuller Canopy project, a cover constructed over the chlorine contact chamber that generates roughly one-third of the plant’s power while shading effluent water to aid cooling. This project earned him several prestigious honors, including the American Public Works Association Sustainability Practices Award and the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies 2025 Outstanding Member Agency Project Innovation Award. In recognition of his technical proficiency and dedication, Mr. Willman was also named Wastewater Operator of the Year for the East Oregon Region by the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association in 2014.
Looking ahead, Mr. Willman is focused on completing his degree in water quality and intends to advance to the position of public works director for the City of Pendleton. He attributes his success thus far to being present at the right moments, making informed decisions and seizing opportunities.
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