New Public Works Director for Anchorage

The Municipality of Anchorage has a new Public Works Director. Mayor Dave Bronson appointed Kent Kohlhase to the position, filling the vacancy created when Lance Wilber was promoted to Executive Director of Community Development. Kohlhase previously served as the municipality’s Director of Project Management and Engineering (PM&E).

“Kent has been an incredible asset to the municipality as the PM&E Director. His leadership, experience, and professionalism make him a great fit to lead the Public Works Department,” Bronson says. “When you find someone as talented as Kent you do everything possible to keep them around. We are pleased to have Kent stepping into this new role and know he will succeed there.”

Kohlhase graduated from UAF in 1993 with a degree in civil engineering. He has been a registered professional engineer since 1998. Kohlhase worked for the US Forest Service in Anchorage for twenty-two years, including seven years as Engineering Staff Officer for the Chugach National Forest.

Kohlhase started with the Municipality of Anchorage in 2013 as the Private Development Manager in Development Services. In November 2015 he became the Design Section Manager and Municipal Engineer, in Project Management & Engineering. In September 2019 he was selected as the Director of PM&E.

“I’m excited and honored to have the opportunity to serve the residents of Anchorage as Public Works Director,” says Kohlhase. “I look forward to working with the dedicated and skilled men and women who design, build, and maintain Anchorage’s roads and public buildings and maintain the vehicles and heavy equipment needed to serve the public.”