Benjamin Reder is the regional director of ERG’s Pacific operations, bringing over 15 years of public sector experience across Hawaii, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. He is a subject matter expert in water resource and resilience planning, coastal management, natural hazard mitigation, and stakeholder engagement. Ben’s work has focused on implementing and evaluating programs that strengthen water infrastructure, reduce coastal hazards, and improve environmental and public health outcomes.

Before joining ERG, Ben led Pacific region programs and operations at NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, where he supported strategic initiatives to foster resilience and manage coastal resources. He also served as deputy chief of planning and project management for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District, directing efforts in flood risk management, coastal storm risk reduction, navigation, and ecosystem restoration. In both roles, he contributed to policy development, community engagement, and collaboration with elected officials and senior leadership.

A San Diego native, Ben holds a B.S. in biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon. If he weren’t human, he’d likely be a fish—drawn to the water by a lifelong passion for swimming, diving, and riding waves, where he finds both focus and renewal.