PORT ANGELES — City officials have hired a new deputy director of operations in the city’s Public Works and Utilities Department.
Maher Abed has taken over the deputy director of operations position from Corey Delikat, who had held it on an interim basis and now serves as the city’s parks and recreation director, city Public Works Director Glenn Cutler said.
Abed’s first day with the city was Jan. 29 after being chosen from a field of 28 applicants, said Teresa Pierce, the city’s executive communications coordinator.
Abed is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the city’s water, wastewater, streets, solid waste, light operations and equipment services divisions, Pierce said.
Abed is a registered professional engineer with more than 23 years of public works experience, Pierce said.
He most recently worked as a program manager for the Army National Guard based at Camp Murray, near Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Lakewood.
Abed holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Portland (Ore.) State University and master’s degrees in organizational leadership from Chapman University and strategic studies from the Army War College, Pierce said.
Abed is also a colonel-select in the U.S. Army Reserve, Cutler said.
Cutler said Abed will report directly to him and serve at the same level as Phil Lusk, the city’s deputy director of power and telecommunication systems, and City Engineer Mike Puntenney.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
