Fernando Soto Hernandez

Experienced Civil Engineer and certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 11 years of progressive leadership in the natural gas, utility infrastructure, and civil engineering projects across the public and private sectors. I specialize in managing and delivering critical infrastructure projects that directly support national energy safety, sustainability, and resilience. Throughout my career, I have successfully managed and delivered multimillion-dollar capital projects that improve public infrastructure, modernize gas distribution systems, and ensure compliance with evolving regulatory standards. My work has contributed to improving energy safety and infrastructure resilience, particularly in the Southwest, where population growth and infrastructure modernization intersect. I hold a PMP certification, an MBA, and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, supported by multiple industry certifications. My technical foundation spans engineering design, capital planning, and utility coordination, with a strong record of driving innovation, improving quality control, and promoting sustainable development. I am recognized for my ability to lead cross-functional teams, mentor engineers and technicians, and navigate challenging stakeholder and regulatory environments. I bring a collaborative and forward-thinking approach to every project. Beyond project execution, I actively contribute to organizational growth through knowledge-sharing, team development, and leadership. My work plays an important role in advancing U.S. energy infrastructure through optimized engineering design, public-private coordination, and quality control strategies that reduce risk and enhance long-term reliability. I am committed to delivering impactful projects that align with national priorities for safety, sustainability, and resilience.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Project Management Institute — Issued: Jul 2022 | Expires: Jul 2028
• Disciplined Agile Essentials Project Management Institute — Issued: May 2025
• AI in Infrastructure & Construction Projects Project Management Institute — Issued: Apr 2025
• Generative AI Overview for Project Managers Project Management Institute — Issued: Oct 2023
• Fundamentals of Gas Distribution GTI Energy — Issued: Mar 2022
• Cédula Profesional - Ingeniería Civil (Civil Engineering) Secretaría de Educación Pública (Mexico) — Issued: Dec 2014 Credential ID: 9102857

• City & County Improvement Projects: Led the relocation of gas pipelines and regulator stations to support major public infrastructure upgrades in Tucson, Arizona. This work ensured uninterrupted energy delivery and enhanced public safety for a rapidly expanding urban population, aligning with U.S. goals for infrastructure modernization and resilience.
• Leadership in Public Utility Projects: I successfully managed over 100 gas distribution and transmission projects across Arizona. Significantly contributing to the reliability and expansion of critical natural gas networks vital for homes, businesses, and industrial operations across the state. This work supported regional economic stability and energy security in the U.S. and highlights my role in ensuring reliable energy delivery across the state, a critical component of national infrastructure resilience and public service.
• Utility Modernization: Directed critical replacement projects for aging gas infrastructure throughout Southern Arizona, significantly improving system reliability, reducing risk, and strengthening the resilience of the region’s energy network.
• Emergency Preparedness & Public Safety: Contributed to Southwest Gas’ emergency response leadership initiatives, enhancing cross-agency coordination and improving community preparedness during infrastructure-related emergencies.
• Sustainable Water Resource Research: Co-authored academic research focused on domestic water policy and resource management strategies in arid regions.
• Professional Development & Knowledge Sharing: Organized technical forums and training and development sessions for Southern Arizona engineers, fostering professional growth, collaboration, and the continuous improvement of engineering practices.
• Energy Resilience: Oversaw the design and execution of gas pipeline and regulator station facility relocations as part of major public roadway and infrastructure projects. This demonstrates my essential contribution to maintaining a continuous energy supply and public safety during significant development, directly impacting the well-being and economic stability of hundreds of thousands of residents.
• Agency Coordination: Acted as primary liaison between a utility company and multiple government agencies, and private consulting firms, managing projects, permitting, and inter-agency coordination. This achievement demonstrates my critical role in delivering critical infrastructure projects on schedule and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders to achieve important public infrastructure goals.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Recognized for leading and managing a team of engineers and technicians, and mentoring engineers and technicians within the engineering group by promoting professional development, quality assurance, and operational excellence. This highlights my commitment to developing future engineering talent and fostering a culture of high standards within the U.S. energy sector.
• Engineering Quality Control & Efficiency: Led initiatives to improve engineering design standards, quality control processes, and project execution efficiency. These efforts directly enhanced the reliability, safety, and compliance of multiple utility infrastructure projects across Arizona.

• Project Management Institute (PMI)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

• “Determinants of Domestic Water Consumption in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico” Authors: Arturo Ojeda de la Cruz, Clara Rosalia Alvarez-Chavez, Marco A Ramos-Corella, Fernando Soto-Hernandez Journal: Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 142, Pages 1901–1910 Publisher: Elsevier
• Date: Jan 20, 2017 Description: Peer-reviewed study using regression modeling to identify resource use drivers in urban Mexico. Contributes to sustainable policy and resource allocation. Cited by 68 (as of July 2025)

• Organizer & Master of Ceremonies - Southern Arizona Engineering Quarterly Meetings: Lead organizer and MOC for quarterly regional engineering meetings, fostering collaboration, technical knowledge-sharing, and professional networking. Coordinate event logistics, develop and guide technical agendas, and facilitate cross-agency communication. Successfully hosted the Southern Arizona Engineering Quarterly Meetings in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Speaker at the Southern Arizona All Management Meeting, delivering insights on project execution and team leadership.
• Speaker Engagements: Houghton Phase 2 Project: Presented at SAZ Engineering Meeting (September 22, 2021). Shared project insights, challenges, and successful execution strategies. Granite Construction Project Challenges: Presented at SAZ Quarterly 2022Q3 (September 21, 2022). Discussed project-specific challenges and effective solutions. Yuma Railroad Crossing Replacement: Presented at Southern Arizona All Management Meeting (July 17, 2025). Provided an update on this critical infrastructure project, shared practical lessons and methodology.
• Technical Training Workshops Conducted several training workshops for engineers and technical staff on key topics such as new engineering design standards, project management methodologies, AutoCAD & Civil 3D training. These workshops actively support team development, enhance technical capabilities, and ensure consistent operational excellence within the engineering group. Led internal workshops on topics including gas line replacement standards, project scheduling best practices, and quality assurance protocols, reinforcing team development and operational consistency.
• Upcoming Speaking Engagement Speaker, 2025 Emergency Response Liaison Meeting (August 17, 2025). Will present on critical topics related to emergency response and utility coordination, further contributing to public safety and inter-agency collaboration.
• Public Speaking & Advocacy Representing the engineering group in city and county coordination meetings. These engagements involve presenting complex engineering designs, regulatory updates, and project progress to diverse audiences, including municipal leaders, county officials, and community stakeholders. These engagements support transparency, promote infrastructure development, and strengthen relationships with municipal leaders and public stakeholders.
• Internal Technical Briefings Regularly conduct briefings for internal teams, including project managers, field personnel, and senior leadership, on engineering designs, project schedules, and regulatory compliance. These sessions ensure effective sharing of critical project information, strategies, foster cross-functional understanding, and drive operational excellence.