FAIRFIELD MUNICIPAL UTILITY
Michael J. Hether – Candidate for ACWA Region Leadership
I am honored to currently serve as the Assistant Public Works Director-Utilities at Fairfield Municipal Utility (FMU), where I oversee efforts to operate and improve our local community’s water system, as well as leading water resource planning efforts to ensure our water portfolio can meet future urban needs. A majority of my engineering career has been with municipally owned utilities spanning over twenty years.
Over the past two decades, I have either led or been actively engaged in planning, designing, and constructing water treatment, transmission, storage, and distribution facilities, as well as emergency recovery and rebuilding efforts from fires, earthquakes and flooding. During the past ten years, my role has transitioned from technical to administrative responsibilities.
In 2020, I joined FMU where my current role is in utility administration. Specifically, it consists of leading and inspiring multidisciplinary teams, directing and overseeing enterprise fund budget development and implementation, and working closely with system managers to deliver high-quality water to our customers.
I have been actively involved in ACWA since joining FMU and since then, I have proudly served as a Local Government Committee Member and continue to participate in several local government subcommittees (Paving Standards, City and County Planning Nexus, State Legislative Committee Feedback), as well as being among the 2024 Executive Edge Cohort.
During the 2025 Spring Conference, I had the privilege of participating in a Leadership Round Table that was part of the Workforce Development Program.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Cal Poly Pomona), a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (University of Southern California) and maintain professional engineering licensure in California. My academic and professional background provides me with technical and leadership insight on urban water systems and municipal utility administration.
If selected, I would be honored to serve as a Region 4 Board Member to help address the complex challenges facing California’s water community.