HONORING ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT CHAIRMAN RYAN GALLAGHER

On 2026-05-19, Representative Young Kim (R-CA-40) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT CHAIRMAN RYAN GALLAGHER" in the House.

HONORING ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT CHAIRMAN RYAN GALLAGHER

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E461] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT CHAIRMAN RYAN GALLAGHER ______ HON. YOUNG KIM of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Mrs. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ryan Gallagher for completing his tenure as Chairman of the Orange County Sanitation District Board of Directors, having served from July 2024 through June 2026. In his various positions, Chairman Gallagher has provided nearly six years of continuous leadership and vision to the OC San Board of Directors, Administration Committee, Steering Committee, Operations Committee, Groundwater Replenishment System Steering Committee, General Manager Recruitment Ad Hoc Committee, General Legal Services Ad Hoc Committee, and OC San/Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority Joint Policy Committee. Tustin City Councilmember Ryan Gallagher was born and raised in Southern California and holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is a licensed Civil Engineer in the State of California and was elected to the Tustin City Council in 2020. Mr. Gallagher was elected to serve as Chairman of the OC San Board in 2024 and serves as a member of the Water Advisory Committee of Orange County and Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee. Prior to joining the City Council, Ryan proudly served on the Tustin Planning Commission and as past Board President of Orange County Water Association, as well as in past Board President roles for local chapters of the Association of Water Agencies, American Public Works Association, and American Society of Civil Engjneers. Ryan is the Chief Operations Officer of MKN, a water and wastewater consulting firm. He previously served as a Vice President of a nationwide engineering firm and Associate Vice President of a Fortune 500 global engineering firm. In his role, he works with local municipalities to plan and design clean water infrastructure for the delivery of safe and reliable drinking water to communities throughout Southern California, which earned him recognition as one of the top 20 engineers in the country under 40 by Engineering News-Record in 2019. During his tenure as Board Chairman from July 2024 through June 2026, Chairman Gallagher compiled a remarkable record of accomplishment. He championed the rollout of the Resource Innovation for a Sustainable Environment program--known as RISE--a forward-looking initiative focused on water, energy, solids, and air that positions OC San to meet future environmental and operational challenges. He oversaw continued fiscal strength, including maintaining OC San's AAA credit ratings from all three major agencies for the 15th consecutive year, reinforcing affordability and responsible rate management. Chairman Gallagher directed Board efforts on the 2025 Strategic Plan update, including the addition of a new policy focus on potable water salinity control and continued emphasis on environmental stewardship and fiscal discipline. He supported the launch of OC San's redesigned website, improving accessibility, transparency, and ease of use for customers and stakeholders, and oversaw increased public engagement efforts--including community events, tours, and educational programs reaching thousands of residents and students across the service area. He also supported initiatives that strengthened workplace culture, including a highly successful employee engagement survey with strong participation and positive feedback on meaningful work and growth opportunities. And throughout his chairmanship, he reinforced OC San's leadership in regulatory compliance and environmental protection through programs like the Pretreatment Honor Roll and longstanding ocean monitoring efforts that protect coastal water quality. I want to thank Chairman Gallagher for his exemplary service and dedication to OC San and the communities we serve and wish him all the best in the years ahead. ____________________