Biography – Kerry Whitford

Kerry Whitford

Chief Strategy Officer
Western Area Power Administration

Kerry Whitford joined WAPA as Chief Strategy Officer in November 2021. As a member of the senior leadership team, Whitford works with leaders and engages with employees, customers and stakeholders to set organization goals defining both near and long-term strategies to meet the mission and achieve the vision of empowering communities, securing a resilient energy future. Whitford oversees the Strategy and integrates strategic planning and execution, organizational development, enterprise risk management, performance management and continuous process improvement.

Whitford has over 30 years of diverse Federal experience. She joined WAPA after 23 years at the Bureau of Reclamation in strategic planning and performance measurement, internal controls, enterprise risk management, environmental programs, and stakeholder relations. While at Reclamation, Whitford was instrumental in establishing Reclamation’s first strategic plan as well as its initial environmental management systems and sustainability programs.

Whitford began her career in 1991 at the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 in Colorado as a State Assistance Program Manager, collaborating with states and tribal nations in developing environmental partnership agreements. She also represented EPA on the Colorado’s Pollution Prevention Partnership comprised of top industry leaders, Federal and state governments, and nonprofits.

Whitford has Bachelor of Arts in environmental conservation from University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Master of Public Administration from Maxwell School, Syracuse, University.