Appointment of Ernie J. Katzwinkel, Vice President for the Division of Administration

Martin Schmidt '81, Ph.D., President
The Rensselaer Community

I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Mr. Ernie J. Katzwinkel as Vice President for the Division of Administration, effective December 1, 2022.

Mr. Katzwinkel has served as the Acting Vice President for Administration since November 2021. Before being appointed as Acting Vice President, he served 10 years as Director of the Physical Plant. 

Mr. Katzwinkel served as Principal in Charge Job Corps Engineering Support Contract, Director of Program Management & Integration, and Deputy Program Manager for FEMA Programs, where he managed all aspects of providing architect and engineering services to the DOD agencies for a top 40 engineering firm in the USA, with primary responsibilities for business development, strategic planning, fiscal performance, and operations providing professional service. 

Mr. Katzwinkel served as Assistant Commander for Engineering Programs and Resources, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, in Washington, D.C., where he managed all land and infrastructure for the Navy with an operational budget of $650 million, annual revenue of $8.5 billion, and field staff of 14,000 people. He served as an Instructor and Executive Assistant to the chairman of the Electrical Engineering department at USNA.

In addition, Mr. Katzwinkel served as Commanding Officer/Executive Officer of Navy Public Works Center Great Lakes and Engineering Field Activity Midwest, in Great Lakes, Illinois, where he directed the business operations of a $240 million, 790-employee Navy "corporation" providing facilities engineering, construction, utility production and distribution, maintenance services, material procurement, environmental services, and transportation fleet management for the Navy's premier training center, a $3.5 billion complex including 1,100 buildings, a 140-bed hospital, and a 160-acre historic district.

Mr. Katzwinkel earned his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. 

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Ernie J. Katzwinkel as the Vice President of the Division of Administration.
 

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