Bernadette Tsosie, a member of the Navajo Nation, brings 31.5 years of expertise working with both U.S. federal agencies and the Navajo Nation government. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Geology with a Hydrology emphasis from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Her career has been dedicated to managing surface and groundwater projects for municipal, industrial, and agricultural water development.
Bernadette‘s specialization includes addressing groundwater contamination from milling activities and tackling broader water quality concerns. She has held several leadership roles, including Associate Director for Hydrological Studies at the US Geological Survey’s Washington Water Science Center, site manager for the Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management, supervisory hydrologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and senior hydrologist for the Navajo Nation Water Resources Department. She also contributed to projects at the USEPA Region 8 and supervised water research initiatives.
Throughout her career, Bernadette has been involved in various water resource projects, focusing on issues such as water rights, aquifer usage, dam safety, floodplain delineations, wetlands, NPDES, Superfund sites, drinking water, and environmental justice. She has developed quality assurance plans, implemented sampling and monitoring networks, and used GIS for data analysis. She has managed projects with budgets ranging from $25,000 to $40 million and has collaborated with federal, state, and tribal entities on water-related initiatives. In addition, she is a skilled public speaker, presenting at scientific conferences and addressing audiences ranging from congressional legislators to local community members.
