Retired 3-Star Army General Takes Command at Birmingham Water Works

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times Lt. Gen. Ron Burgess (Ret.), who rose to the level of three-star general in the U.S. Army, will independently assess the Birmingham Water Works from top to bottom with no limitations and recommend structural changes where needed, BWW Board Chair Tereshia Huffman said on Monday. “It is no mystery that prior BWW boards have struggled to build the trust needed with the public while modernizing our operations to best serve our customers,” Huffman said during a media briefing. Huffman introduced Burgess saying the Water Works needed a “more effective approach to the system’s operations” and wanted a highly respected and experienced leader for the job. That person was Burgess, who led the Defense Intelligence Agency where he had responsibility for more than 17,000 employees and then became the Chief Operating Officer at Auburn University where he led all operations that included more than 5,000 employees and 25,000 students, she said. “We are pleased to work with General Ron Burgess to lead this effort [at reorganization] as well as guide the process in hiring a new, long-term general manager,” Huffman said. “His strong commitment to public service is undeniable.” Birmingham Water Works General Manager,...