Our People
How can utilities build maintenance teams that deliver long-term value?
Meet John Loucks-Powell. John supports water operators, clients and teams in improving reliability, resilience and safety of water and wastewater systems nationwide, delivering lasting value to the communities we serve.
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John Loucks-Powell brings an experienced hand to Operations Management and Facilities Services (OMFS) with a focus on the challenges our clients face every day: aging infrastructure, rising operational demands and the pressure to keep essential water and wastewater systems running without interruption. With 45 years in utility operations and maintenance, John brings the knowledge to help clients strengthen the reliability and performance of their critical water and wastewater infrastructure — the backbone of the communities they serve.
Get to know John
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45
years of experience in maintenance
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3
major industry awards
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30 %
savings achieved through a $25M SCADA project
A foundation in skilled trades
John’s career began in the skilled trades, spending 20 years developing expertise in industrial maintenance, machinery installation and precision mechanical work. His experience shaped his commitment to safety, craftsmanship and operational integrity, which continues to influence how he strengthens essential infrastructure.
Leading one of the nation’s most complex wastewater systems
Before joining Jacobs, John spent more than a decade at one of California’s largest municipal utility agencies, managing a highly complex combined sewer system and leading a team of 135 across technical and operational disciplines.
He oversaw the health and safety program, the maintenance budget and played a key role in major capital work — including a sewer system improvement program and biosolids digester facilities project — helping the team work more safely and manage resources more effectively. He also drove the early adoption of mobile and reliability-centered maintenance technologies to help operators identify issues earlier, respond faster and make more informed decisions about where to invest time and resources.
Delivering excellence at Jacobs
John joined Jacobs in 2016 as project manager for the Vancouver, Washington, project where he led a $25-million supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system upgrade, achieved zero lost-time incidents and delivered significant cost savings. His team earned multiple industry honors, including the Water Environment Federation’s Utility of the Future Today Award, reflecting a strong culture of innovation.
In 2021, he became regional business manager for the Northwest, supporting water and wastewater facilities across Washington and Oregon. He strengthened client relationships and made sure facilities had the resources needed to meet evolving regulatory demands.
Today, John supports regional maintenance and asset management managers across the country. The Regional Maintenance Group advances ISO 55000-aligned practices — the foundational international standard for asset management — champions predictive and condition-based maintenance technologies, and partners with regional teams to conduct condition assessments that identify risks before they impact operations. This work directly benefits our clients by improving asset performance, extending asset life and lowering maintenance costs.
Credentials
John holds a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University and a journeyman certificate from Northern California Millwright’s Local #102 Apprenticeship. He is certified as a wastewater operator in Washington, California and Oregon, and is recognized as a Certified Maintenance Reliability Leader.
“Maintenance is far more than a support role in water and wastewater operations — it's the foundation of public health and environmental stewardship. By properly caring for our assets, we safeguard our communities, protect our operators and preserve the waterways we all rely on.”
