Kristin Deason, a 2009 doctoral graduate of the Environmental and Energy Management program, was spotlighted in the corporation-wide publication of the environmental consulting giant Booz Allen Hamilton in May 2015. Below is the article on Kristin, who is a Senior Associate with Booz Allen in charge of the corporation’s U.S. Army Energy Initiatives Task Force support team.
Profiles in Sustainability
Kristin Deason, Arlington, VA
Arlington-based Kristin Deason’s sustainability roots run deep. As the daughter of an environmental engineer and an outdoor lover, Kristin always had an interest in the environment. Her enthusiasm for travel and hiking has given her an appreciation for maintaining our natural public spaces. In fact, Kristin’s love of nature brought her to Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park where she shot her prize-winning photo. “It was the first time I had been there, and the scenery was breathtaking! This photo was appropriate for the sustainability contest because it shows the beauty of our natural world. I hope that seeing places, and pictures of places like this, reminds people of the importance of doing things like saving energy and water.”
After initially working in IT, Kristin decided to change careers to align with her interest in sustainability by earning a PhD in Systems Engineering with a focus on Environmental and Energy Management. She now works within the firm’s Energy group, where she has managed large-scale renewable energy projects for the Army and the Navy, and is now working with the firm’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) team at the Department of Energy. “I love doing work that I feel is having a positive impact on the world!”
Kristin’s interest in sustainability doesn’t end with her job. As a certified Energy Master within the Arlington Energy Masters Program, Kristin is part of a group of trained volunteers that retrofits affordable housing apartments to conserve energy and water to help low-income residents save money. She is also a member of Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and recently served on the selection committee for the Arlington Solar Co-op. “I’m hoping to install solar panels on my townhouse soon as part of this program.”
Kristin has also actively participated in Booz Allen volunteer events such as the DC Environmental Film Festival and the International Coastal Cleanup. Kristin appreciates these opportunities. “It shows that we are living our values, and it’s also a nice way to meet like-minded colleagues."
For those who want to ease into being more sustainable, Kristin says, “Bring your own water bottle and coffee cup to work! I get so frustrated seeing the number of disposable water bottles and paper coffee cups we go through in the office.” For those already doing the basics, Kristin offers this additional advice. “Eat less meat. Animal agriculture is responsible for anywhere from 10-50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Just eating one less meat dish per week can really reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, it’s healthier. Let me know if you need recipes!”