Voorhees-based American Water, the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, named Brig. Gen. David Turner (retired) as the new president of Military Services Group (MSG), effective Nov. 20. Gen. Turner will replace Todd Duerr, who is leaving the business effective Jan. 1.
“Todd has been a valued leader for the Military Services Group, helping MSG grow to 13 bases with the recent signing of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio,” said Deborah A. Degillio, president of American Water Enterprises. “We are excited to have General Turner lead our MSG team, and apply his deep military experience to help us become an even more effective partner with the U.S. armed forces.”
Gen. Turner has more than 20 years of broad military service. He most recently served as the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division. In this position, he oversaw the planning, design and construction of projects to support the military, protect water resources, and restore and enhance the environment in eight southeastern states.
Gen. Turner also commanded the South Pacific Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has held several other prestigious leadership positions, including chief of staff for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters; chief of staff of the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force in Afghanistan; division chief for Base Realignment and Closure Division; and commander for the Far East Engineer District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Seoul, South Korea. He has also served three tours on the U.S. Army Staff.
Gen. Turner has served his country on the Joint Staff as assistant deputy director of operations, emergency action officer, global nuclear strike advisor and senior operations officer. His rich military background included assignments in the continental U.S., Germany, Bosnia, and the Middle East. During the Gulf War, he commanded Bravo Company, and he served a combat tour as commander of the 14thCombat Engineer Battalion with deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A highly decorated military leader, Gen. Turner has earned the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal; three Legion of Merit awards; the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and two Bronze Star medals.
He graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences and has been named one of the university’s Distinguished Alumni. He also holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Wichita State University and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College. He is a Harvard Senior Executive Fellow.
“We are humbled to have someone who has given so much to his country become part of the American Water team,” said Susan Story, president and CEO of American Water. “Gen. Turner’s leadership and extensive expertise will add great value to the leadership team at American Water.”
In his new role, Gen. Turner will lead American Water’s Military Services Group, which works with the United States Military to treat and supply water and to collect and treat wastewater for military installations all over the country as part of the federal government’s Utility Privatization Program. MSG currently operates and maintains the water and/or wastewater assets at 13 installations: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Fort A.P. Hill, Va.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; Fort Rucker, Ala.; Fort Meade, Md.; Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Polk, La., Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.; and Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
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