PNNL

Danielle "Dani" Young holds a Professional Engineering License in Civil Engineering, obtained in 2024, and has academic qualifications from Washington State University with a BS in civil engineering and an MS in Environmental Engineering, focusing on water and wastewater treatment. 

Her career is characterized by dual portfolios: one with the Department of Defense, U.S. Army and the other with the Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO). Since 2019, Young has been involved with the U.S. Army as a project manager, task lead, and technical authority in areas including water and energy security, installation energy and water plans, stormwater management, water rights, and cybersecurity for facility-related control systems.

Since 2023, Young has served WPTO by managing hydropower projects, offering technical assistance to utilities, and engaging in areas such as pumped storage hydropower and environmentally acceptable lubricants. Her work also includes promoting awareness of cybersecurity within workforce development efforts and exploring hybrid applications involving hydropower with other energy technologies. 

With a focus on continuous learning, Young seeks education in fields such as project management, civil engineering, and hydropower projects. Her involvement includes studying sustainable infrastructure, port facilities, and hydropower related to extreme events. She actively participates in professional organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE), the Eastern Washington Society of Women Engineers (EWS-SWE), the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), the Northwest Hydropower Association (NWHA), and the National Hydropower Association Future Leaders of Hydropower (NHA - FLOW). 

Since joining PNNL in 2019, Young has participated in a broad range of projects, including production validation testing, electrical resistivity tomography monitoring, and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Water Treatment Playbook and Seaport Skid. She is a founding member of Water Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (WADE), a team collaborating on water-related initiatives.

Her past roles include managing operations and business development for fitness facilities in Western Washington before pursuing her engineering career. Young's engagement at Washington State University included positions such as ASCE Student Chapter President, Director of Student Affairs, College of Engineering and Computer Science Senator, and adjunct professor. She received the "Woman of Distinction" award in 2018.

In her free time, Young is an active reader, multi-sport athlete, mother of 3, and the president of the Columbia Basin Fireflies, a peer support group for the families and friends of first responders in Eastern Washington. 

• Hydropower
• Pumped storage hydropower
• Water and wastewater treatment
• Low-impact development
• Hydraulics
• Stormwater management
• Port facilities
• Tornado design

• Project management
• Public speaking
• Technical leadership
• Executive writing

• MS in civil and environmental engineering, Washington State University, 2021
• BS in civil engineering, Washington State University, 2019

• American Society of Civil Engineers, WSU-TC Student Chapter President
• American Society of Civil Engineering
• Eastern Washington Society of Women Engineers
• Association for Women in Science
• Northwest Hydropower Association
• National Hydropower Association Future Leaders of Hydropower
• Dotfit Certified Personal Trainer

• Crimson Achievement Award, Washington State University, 2017 - 2019
•  Woman of Distinction, Washington State University Tri-Cities, 2018