Hans Neukomm

Hans Neukomm grew up in Burgdorf, Switzerland. He graduated with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the State Engineering College in Burgdorf in 1959. He served in the Swiss Army as a commissioned officer and commander of a Combat Engineer Unit. Following his military service, he joined the Power Company of the State of Bern and immigrated to the United States in 1963. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1968.

After two years with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Jose, California, Hans joined CH2M HILL as a project engineer. He held a number of positions of increasing responsibilities as Project Manager, Department Manager and Director of Electrical Engineering. In 1983 he was appointed Vice President and Director of the Energy Services Division with national and international responsibilities for electric power systems such as power plants, high-voltage transmission and distribution systems.

Throughout his career, Hans has been active in community and professional society volunteer work. Professionally, he represented CH2M HILL on the Board of Directors of the Western Electric Power Institute, an organization that serves private and public power companies in the 11 Western States and 3 Provinces in Western Canada. In 1998 Oregon’s Governor appointed Hans to the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council for a 4-year term. In 2002, the Oregon Senate reconfirmed Hans for a second 4-year term. He served as the Council’s Chair in 2005/06.

Hans joined the Corvallis Rotary Club in 1982. He served his club as President in 1998-99 and as District Governor in 2003-2004.

Very active in community service, he serves on the Board of the Good Samaritan Hospital and the Linn-Benton Community College Foundations. He is a Past Chairman of the Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Partnership, a Vice President of the Oregon Trail Council and Past Chairman of the Benton District, Boy Scouts of America.
In 1992 Hans founded Leadership Corvallis Inc. an organization that trains and prepares citizens for service as volunteers on boards and committees of community and charitable service organizations. He served as the organization’s President and Chairman of the Board until 2002. To date over 400 citizens graduated from this program and serve in a variety of community organizations.
Additionally, he provided leadership and direction to numerous Boards and Committees of other organizations among them the Benton County Budget Committee, the Vineyard Mountain Water District and the Benton County Republican Central Committee.

In recognition for his contributions and leadership in community, charitable and service organizations, Hans received many awards and accolades among them First Citizen of Corvallis in 1995, the prestigious Silver Beaver Award of the Boy Scouts of America in 1996 and in 2002 Oregon’s Governor recognized Hans with the State of Oregon’s Economic and Community Development Award for Outstanding Community Leadership.