The Northern Neck Soil & Water Conservation District (NNSWCD) is proud to recognize its Chairman Robert E. Pickett in achieving a significant professional and personal milestone this past September – 50 consecutive years of public service to the Commonwealth of Virginia!
Pickett’s career with the Virginia Department of Highways, now known as the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) began in 1974. Having taken several law courses at VCU, starting out as a Right of Way Technician-Paralegal Assistant seemed appropriate; he focused on real estate title examinations and closings for right of way acquisitions. A memorable task during this position was locating abandoned public lands and roads ending at the waters edge in Northumberland County to aid the Smith Point Sea Rescue missions.

Four years later, an opportunity became available and Pickett transferred to the Environmental Section in the 14 County Fredericksburg District which extends from Stafford County to Gloucester Point. This was an entry level position at a time when environmental regulation such as the National Environmental Policy (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, and Virginia’s Erosion and Sediment Control Act were in their infancy. As an Environmental Specialist, Pickett prepared environmental documents, obtained permits for bridge construction and wetland impacts, developed conceptual plans for shoreline structures and wetland compensation sites, and implemented numerous erosion control and storm water management practices on both linear and site developed projects.

In 1990, he was promoted to the District Environmental Manager where he served until his retirement in 2017. During that time, he led a diverse multidisciplinary team of Cultural Resource and Environmental Professionals and was active in all projects within the Fredericksburg District including the 50-mile expanse of I-95 widening from Hanover to Prince William County, the West Point Bridge Replacements, miles of four lane improvements on Routes 3, 17, and 360, and the site for VDOT’s first freshwater wetland compensation bank in the Mattaponi basin.

Overlapping with the final years of his paid career, Pickett began the volunteer era of his service to the Commonwealth of Virginia as an elected Director representing Northumberland County on the Northern Neck SWCD’s Board of Directors effective January 1, 2016 where his leadership skills were quickly recognized. Pickett has served as the NNSWCD Chairman since 2020, held the Vice-Chair position at the VASWCD Area III level as well as on the Potomac Council, and he is currently the Acting-Chair of the Potomac Watershed Roundtable and VASCWD representative on the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Advisory Committee (EVGWMAC).

Please join us in recognizing Robert E. Pickett on 50 consecutive years of public service to the Commonwealth of Virginia!