Craig Louis Jarnot
Bemidji,MN
Summary
Experienced leader with strong background in guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving strategic objectives. Excels in developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards, and aligning efforts with organizational goals. Known for collaborative approach and commitment to excellence.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief (Interim Chief 2020–2021), North Branch (GS-13)
United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Regulatory Division
Bemidji, MN
02.2020 - Current
- Lead the North Branch Regulatory Section, overseeing administration and enforcement of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program across a geographically diverse and high-priority region. Supervise 6–10 staff members, ensuring consistent, timely, and legally defensible regulatory decisions.
- Directed Branch operations with emphasis on the North Branch mission: protecting aquatic resources through teamwork, efficiency, sound decision-making, and public service.
- Built a collaborative team culture by balancing workload equitably across staff, aligning assignments with technical strengths and developmental opportunities, and fostering open communication within the Branch and across the Division. Branch efficiency was improved by implementing balanced workload distribution, mentoring staff, and providing actionable developmental feedback.
- Implemented efficiency measures including structured triage, documentation standards, and process improvements (e.g., SOP adherence, ladder review turnaround, and early project intake), reducing review times and improving project throughput.
- Ensured decisions were accurate, fair, and defensible, applying current policy, guidance, and regulatory authority. Mentored staff on complex and high-profile applications to strengthen technical expertise and consistency in reviews.
- Advanced programmatic improvements by contributing to development of the employee handbook, triage protocols, and standard operating procedures, improving operational consistency across the Division.
- Actively represented the Branch in weekly Chiefs’ meetings and Division-wide policy discussions, promoting regulatory consistency and alignment with evolving laws and regulations.
- Played a key leadership role in the 2020 approval of the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline replacement project, coordinating complex evaluations, agency collaboration, and public engagement for one of the District’s largest and most controversial projects.
- Continued serving as primary point of contact for Red River Basin permitting and programmatic efforts, advancing flood damage reduction projects through interagency coordination and stakeholder outreach.
- Key Contributions:
- Strengthened Branch performance through structured communication, strategic workload management, and team development initiatives.
- Improved efficiency and consistency of regulatory actions by embedding North Branch Work Plan principles into daily operations.
- Provided trusted leadership on high-visibility, controversial infrastructure projects, ensuring decisions upheld environmental protections, transparency, and public trust.
- Reinforced Corps values of professionalism, fairness, timeliness, accountability, and respect in all staff and stakeholder interactions.
Regulatory Lead/Senior Project Manager – Bemidji Field Office (GS 12)
United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Regulatory Branch
Bemidji, MN
05.2018 - 02.2020
- Lead regulatory reviews under the Clean Water Act Section 404 and Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, managing complex permit applications, mitigation bank proposals, wetland delineations, jurisdictional determinations, and compliance/enforcement actions.
- Serve as Senior Project Manager for Red River Basin Flood Damage Reduction projects. Established consistent, Basin-wide regulatory guidance for flood damage reduction projects, reducing delays and strengthening interagency coordination, and ensuring compliance with 404(b)(1) guidelines.
- Engage in early project planning to identify practicable alternatives, streamline permitting, and mitigate risks, building strong working relationships with federal, state, Tribal, and local partners.
- Deliver stakeholder outreach and education through the Flood Damage Reduction Work Group, annual conferences, and Project Work Team meetings, improving understanding of Corps regulations and strengthening cross-agency collaboration through leadership of Red River Basin project reviews, ensuring projects advanced in compliance with Corps regulations.
- Direct workload management, assigning projects based on complexity and risk, mentoring staff, and reviewing documentation for technical accuracy, professional quality, and regulatory compliance, resulting in improved efficiency and public service.
- Collaborate with lead project managers across the District to ensure consistency in regulatory decisions; keep leadership informed on workload trends, risks, and opportunities for staff development.
- Maintain accountability of all government assets for the Bemidji Field Office.
- Key Contributions:
- Improved Section efficiency by implementing balanced workload distribution, mentoring staff, and providing actionable developmental feedback.
- Enhanced stakeholder capacity to navigate Section 404 permitting through targeted outreach and technical education.
- Recognized as a trusted technical authority for complex flood damage reduction and large-scale infrastructure projects.
Regulatory Project Manager/Biologist (GS 11)
United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Regulatory Branch
Bemidji, MN
05.2011 - 05.2016
- Managed regulatory actions for five counties in northwest Minnesota, independently reviewing General Permits, Letters of Permission, and Standard Individual Permits under the Clean Water Act Section 404 and Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.
- Conducted comprehensive technical evaluations of permit applications, including field inspections, desktop analyses, review of engineered plans, wetland delineations, hydrology assessments, and cumulative impact analyses.
- Prepared defensible permit decisions through NEPA documentation, Public Interest reviews, 404(b)(1) compliance evaluations, and interagency coordination.
- Completed ESA Section 7 consultations and NHPA Section 106 reviews for projects where the Corps served as lead federal agency, ensuring compliance with environmental and cultural resource laws.
- Investigated and resolved permit violations and unauthorized activities, applying enforcement actions as necessary to achieve compliance.
- Frequently represented the Corps at interagency meetings, communicating regulatory requirements and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and the regulated public.
- Managed a significant workload of flood damage reduction projects in the Red River Basin, serving on Project Work Teams and coordinating with federal, state, local, Tribal, and non-governmental partners to address permitting challenges and advance flood risk management efforts.
- Key Contributions:
- Built strong collaborative relationships with agencies and stakeholders across northwest Minnesota, improving efficiency in flood damage reduction project reviews.
- Recognized for balancing a high-volume, complex workload while ensuring timely, legally sound permit decisions.
- Strengthened stakeholder understanding of the Corps’ regulatory program through consistent outreach and technical communication.
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and United States Army Corps of Engineers, Intergovernmental Personnel Act Agreement
Bemidji, MN
12.2008 - 05.2011
- Ensured compliance of two major interstate pipeline projects with federal and state environmental requirements, mitigating risks to wetlands, streams, and sensitive habitats, supporting permitting, construction, and restoration phases.
- Reviewed and evaluated permit applications and environmental documentation, including Presidential Permit (U.S. State Dept.), Clean Water Act Section 404, Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10, NPDES/SDS, Section 401 Water Quality Certification, and state public waters/land crossing permits.
- Applied knowledge of natural, physical, and social sciences to assess impacts on wetlands, waterways, wildlife habitat, and threatened and endangered species, providing mitigation recommendations to the Minnesota DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- Implemented NEPA through review of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and applied the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act by coordinating with the USFWS, Minnesota DNR, and interdisciplinary teams to address resource impacts.
- Served as the Corps’ primary point of contact during construction, liaising with environmental inspectors and monitors to resolve compliance issues in real time.
- Coordinated multi-agency site visits, field reviews, and compliance meetings with regulators, consultants, and construction contractors to ensure adherence to permit conditions and effective restoration planning.
- Supported Corps regulatory staff by reviewing General, Nationwide, and Letter of Permission permits, conducting jurisdictional determinations, and verifying wetland delineations based on vegetation, soils, and hydrology.
Education
Master of Science - Biology
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, MN05.2009
Bachelor of Science - Aquatic Biology
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, MN05.2005
Skills
- Accountable
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Public service oriented
- Problem-solving
- Mentor
Accomplishments
Leadership Development Program Advanced Level 2 Graduate (2024)
Timeline
Chief (Interim Chief 2020–2021), North Branch (GS-13)
United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Regulatory Division
02.2020 - Current
Regulatory Lead/Senior Project Manager – Bemidji Field Office (GS 12)
United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Regulatory Branch
05.2018 - 02.2020
Regulatory Project Manager/Biologist (GS 11)
United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Regulatory Branch
05.2011 - 05.2016
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and United States Army Corps of Engineers, Intergovernmental Personnel Act Agreement
12.2008 - 05.2011
Bachelor of Science - Aquatic Biology
Bemidji State University
Master of Science - Biology
Bemidji State University