The Waterfront Alliance is honored to recognize Chris Ward, a groundbreaking leader who has masterfully bridged the worlds of infrastructure and environment, as a 2024 Hero of the Harbor.

The Waterfront Alliance is honored to recognize Chris Ward, a groundbreaking leader who has masterfully bridged the worlds of infrastructure and environment, as a 2024 Hero of the Harbor. 

Throughout a three-plus-decade career, Chris Ward has continuously created ripples that would become waves. From his instrumental role in revitalizing the World Trade Center site as Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to his leadership as the Commissioner at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, to his tenure at AECOM overseeing advancements in the transportation, water, and environmental sectors, Ward has ensured the success of landmark projects that have shaped the New York-New Jersey landscape.  

Ward also served a transformative 12-year tenure as Waterfront Alliance’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, where his expertise and wide-reaching connections across the public and private sectors were fundamental in establishing the Waterfront Alliance as a powerful advocate in the environmental and climate arenas. 

We sat down with Ward to discuss the inspirations, motivations, and challenges that have guided his illustrious career, providing a glimpse into the life of a dedicated public servant and game-changing leader with a steadfast commitment to progress. 

 

Following the Path from Aspiration to Adventure 

Growing up, Ward never imagined the path his career would take. “I vividly recall, as a fourth grader in 1963, checking out a book from the library entitled How to Become a Surgeon,” he says. “It literally showed you how to take a scalpel to flesh, or how to safely suture a wound. So, in fourth grade, I somehow thought, ‘maybe I’ll become a surgeon.’ Luckily, that phase did not last long,” he adds with a laugh. 

In 1976, having graduated from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Ward embraced his more rugged aspirations. “I rolled up my sleeves and really leaned into that gritty, authentic, blue-collar lifestyle,” he shares, recalling his time working on a ranch in New Mexico and a year spent on an oil rig in Texas. Though the experiences during this period varied wildly, the lessons he learned remain invaluable.  

“On the rig, you’re working 12-hour days, seven days on, then seven days off,” he notes. “It’s a mixing bowl of personalities that all need to learn how to coexist.”  

Throughout his eclectic career, Ward has united a variety of leaders and laborers around common goals, ensuring the success of complex projects. His early exposure to diverse characters resonates throughout his professional work.   

“I probably learned more about life and leadership from working on that rig with 20 other completely unique guys than from anything else in my entire career,” he reflects. 

 

 

Environmental Victories Lead to Historic Achievements 

As Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Ward spearheaded the Long Island Sound Nitrogen Reduction Program, a significant (if slightly unheralded) benchmark in his varied career. 

“The City’s sewer system was unable to either restrict the amount of nitrogen coming through the Combined Sewer Overflow systems, or to reduce nitrogen via its treatment strategies,” he says.  

This resulted in millions of pounds of nitrogen being discharged into the Long Island Sound, contributing to an overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae, which can deprive other life forms of oxygen, thus disrupting the ecosystem. 

“Through technological innovations and compromise on restrictions, we came up with a standing agreement to finally reduce the nitrogen discharge and improve long-term water quality in the Sound,” Ward says. The process involved navigating a lengthy legal dispute between the city and state, during which both the EPA and federal government charged the city with assorted violations. 

“While few people are likely to know about it, let alone understand the particulars, from a long-term environmental perspective, that was one of my proudest and most impactful achievements,” Ward remarks. 

Flash forward to the late 2000s, and Ward is at the helm of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. At this critical time, the Port Authority owned land that was stagnating at the site of the September 11 attacks. Competing visions for the rebuilding of the site contributed to a process fraught with delays, budget constraints, and scrapped plans.  

Ward managed to transform this idling construction quagmire into an active project with a concrete agenda, successfully delivering a memorial before the ten-year mark of the attacks, a milestone that held immense significance for the entire country. 

“The World Trade Center rebuilding project and the tenth anniversary 9/11 memorial will likely forever be seen as my highwater mark,” Ward reflects. “After all of the struggles, delays, and budget issues, that was just an incredible effort – a true moment in history.” 

Despite the magnitude of those endeavors, Ward is equally proud of his arguably smaller efforts.  For example, while at the Port Authority, he was able to allocate funding for the Hunter’s Point Library in Queens, which has been celebrated for its architectural beauty and as a treasured green community space along the waterfront.  

“I just take great pleasure in seeing that at night while riding along East River Drive,” he reflects with a smile.  

 

 

Looking Back with Pride and Forward with Hope 

While his professional achievements are objectively awe-inspiring, Ward does not hesitate when pressed to cite his ultimate accomplishment.

“It’s my family, hands down,” he states with complete certainty. “Successfully raising Katherine and John–just two of the greatest kids–with my wife Pam, seeing them both now in adulthood… I still remember living together in the city, and the journey has been remarkable. We have a grandchild now, Owen… you just count your blessings and try to see the joy in every day. Personally, this family has been my greatest achievement.” 

Having a grandchild prompts a new kind of reflection from Ward. “My hope is that, by the time Owen is 50, we evaluate our cities based on how they treat their most vulnerable residents. Unless we have a holistic view as to how we’re involving the people at the very bottom within the ethics of democracy and the distribution of benefits, cities will inherently lose their cohesiveness over time. Of course, this will require a turn away from the toxic politics that dominate our culture today.” 

When asked if he has hope for the future, Ward replies, “Like any good optimist, I believe that human creativity–as we’ve seen over and over again–can address so many problems.”  

He points out how the invention of the car solved the transportation conundrum of its time, and that our current challenge is the reduction of carbon emissions.  

“We need technology to help solve our transportation issues. And I think you’re beginning to see the green sprouts of optimism in that technology. So, I remain positive, both on the pendulum swinging politically and technology bringing solutions to problems that once seemed intractable,” he finishes.  

 

 

Charting a New Course for Waterfront Alliance 

Ward’s position as Chair of the Board of Trustees within the Waterfront Alliance marked another significant notch on his proverbial belt. During Ward’s transformative tenure, Waterfront Alliance sharpened its focus on climate-related issues in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, developed the WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) rating system for waterfront design, created the Estuary Explorers STEM education program, and launched the Rise to Resilience Coalition.  

“The Waterfront Alliance got off to a great start, by wrapping its arms around everyone who wanted to be involved with the waterfront,” Ward candidly explains. “That’s how you build a base. But a base needs to remain activated in order to stay effective. 

“When I got involved, there was a collective sense from both board and employees that the mission and strategy of the Alliance needed to shift,” Ward continues. “So, along with some fantastic former board members, we undertook a strategic realignment. We sought to throw our weight around, hold elected officials accountable, and create an agenda that could deliver tangible political outcomes.”  

Ward’s learned leadership and extensive network led Waterfront Alliance to significant policy and legislative achievements at the local, state, and national levels—notably, the recent passage of comprehensive flood disclosure for all home sales in both New York and New Jersey, ensuring all home buyers and renters will be fully informed about possible flood risks. 

“My efforts marked only the beginning of the new and improved Waterfront Alliance strategy,” Ward says. “This work is just getting started.” 

 

 

Open Minds Lead to Open Doors 

Ward’s career exists on a spectrum, with each role and achievement adding a unique dash of color to the broader picture. Asked what advice he would give to young people with similar aspirations, he says, “Do not limit yourself by drilling down into a particular area of expertise or policy prematurely. Without a willingness to explore, you might miss out on avenues you’d not considered and fail to hit the career heights you’d initially aimed for.”  

Ward recalls his transition from the Department of Consumer Affairs (dealing with the deregulation of the telephone industry) to the Mayor’s Office of Energy: “Someone who observed my interest in energy tapped me when a position in that sector opened up, noting that there wasn’t a vast difference in the day-to-day work.”  

From there, Ward was able to move into the role of Deputy Commissioner of Telecommunications and Energy, at the crucial advent of both cable television and the internet.  

“If you limit yourself early, you’ll forever stay limited,” Ward warns. “You won’t develop the breadth of experience that you need to advance. But most importantly, you will be boring in your limitations. You will fail to motivate people, because you’ll become a broken record. You’ll find yourself talking about the same minimal set of references again and again.” 

“If you saw my career, there’s no logic for where I ended up and how I got there, but maintaining an open, critical mind… that’s really what guided my trajectory and ensured that good things happened.  

“Of course, I was also very lucky,” Ward concludes with a smile. “The right doors opened for me just when I was ready to walk on through.”

 

Heroes of the Harbor is an evening to celebrate the best in maritime excellence, from groundbreaking projects to influential leaders, all who have made a positive impact on the New York-New Jersey harbor region. This year we’re proud to honor Chris Ward and the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project. Join us on October 16 from 6-9pm at City Winery for the festivities! Sponsorship packages and individual tickets are available! Learn more here.