About Me
Dr. Kyle McKay is an ecological engineer with interests in nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration, and ecological modeling. He is environmental director for Woolpert, an architecture, engineering, and geospatial company. Prior to his current position, Kyle was a researcher with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers focused on a similar suite of topics. He is on the leadership team of the Network for Engineering with Nature and actively engages with universities through adjunct faculty positions at the University of Georgia and Brooklyn College.
Education & Licensing
Ph.D., Ecology, University of Georgia, 2014
M.S., Civil Engineering (Environmental Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2007
B.S., Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 2001-2005
Professional Engineer in Georgia (#PE040542), 2016-Present
Professional Appointments
Environmental Director – Woolpert, New York, NY, June 2025 - Present
- Develop environmental services capabilities across the company with an emphasis on nature-based solutions and ecological data analytics.
- Lead technical activities on cross-sector environmental projects.
- Foster external partnerships and collaborations.
University Appointments
- Adjunct faculty, University of Maine, Aug 2023 - Present
- Ad Honorem Advisory Committee Member, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez, Department of Marine Sciences, Nov 2022-Present
- Adjunct faculty, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Jan 2022 - Present
- Adjunct faculty, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Aug 2021 - Present
- Leadership Team, Network for Engineering with Nature (multi-institutional partnership led by ERDC and UGA), Aug 2020 - Present
- Affiliate faculty, Center for Integrative Conservation Research, University of Georgia, Mar 2015 - Present
- Adjunct faculty, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Nov 2014 - Present
Senior Research Civil Engineer (GS-15 Equivalent) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Environmental Laboratory (EL), New York, New York, August 2021 - May 2025
- Led the Water Research Integrating Socio-ecological and Engineered Systems Team with 20+ team members and dozens of partners in executing $2.4M annual portfolio.
- Established and executed the strategic vision for the team’s research portfolio investigating topics related to integrated water resource management, ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, ecological modeling, Engineering with Nature®, urban streams, river engineering, coastal storm risk management, and crisis and disaster management.
- Contributed to dozens of USACE projects across ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, and navigation business lines.
- Served as a formal liaison officer to USACE’s New York District.
- Advised large-scale activities such as the National Nature Assessment (led by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy), the Upper Mississippi Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program, and the NY/NJ Harbor and Tributaries Study.
Other USACE Appointments:
- Research Civil Engineer (GS-13/14 Equivalent), New York, New York, August 2016 - July 2021.
- Research Civil Engineer (GS-12/13 Equivalent), Athens, Georgia, October 2011 - July 2016.
- Research Civil Engineer (GS-11 Equivalent), Athens, Georgia, August 2007 - October 2011.
- Contractor, USACE Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 2005 and 2007.
- Technician, USACE Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 2001 and 2002.