Robert Holmes, Jr., Ph.D., P.E.
National Flood Hazard Coordinator
Office of Surface Water
Email: bholmes@usgs.gov
Phone: 573-308-3581
Mobile: 573-465-0286
Fax: 573-308-3645
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5060-3999
Address:
1400 Independence
Rolla, MO 65401
Expertise
As the National Flood Hazard Coordinator for the USGS, Dr. Holmes serves as lead flood scientist for operational and scientific endeavors nationwide, including serving as a senior advisor to USGS leadership on flood issues. Research interests include flood hydrology, river mechanics, open-channel hydraulics, and sediment transport.
Biography
Education
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois
M.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla
B.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla
Experience
2008- National Flood Hazard Coordinator, USGS Office of Surface Water
1999-2008--Director, USGS Illinois Water Science Center
1997-1999-Chief of Network Operations, USGS Illinois Water Science Center
1996-1997--Surface Water Specialist, USGS Illinois
1994-1996--Hydrologist, USGS Illinois
1987-1994--Hydrologist--USGS Missouri
Dr. Robert Holmes serves as the National Flood Hazard Specialist and Coordinator for the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS). Additionally he holds academic appointments as an Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at both the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) and the University of Illinois. As USGS National Flood Specialist, Dr. Holmes serves as lead flood scientist for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operational and scientific endeavors nationwide, including serving as a senior advisor on flood issues to the USGS Director and Associate Directors. Prior to taking his current position in 2008, he served for 9 years as the Director of the USGS Illinois Water Science Center in Urbana, Illinois. Other USGS positions include: Chief of the Illinois Hydrologic Data Collection Section, Surface Water Specialist, Sediment Specialist, and Project Hydrologist.
Dr. Holmes has BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the Missouri S&T and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois. Holmes is a licensed professional engineer in Missouri, a Diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a Fellow of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a Past President of the Mid-Missouri Section of ASCE, a member of the computational hydraulics committee of ASCE, and Vice-Chair of the St. Louis Section of EWRI. He is also a member in the American Geophysical Union and the International Hydrological Science Association. Dr. Holmes has received numerous awards from Missouri S&T, including induction into its Academy of Civil Engineers, the 2014 Alumni Achievement Award and Outstanding Teaching Award for 2013, 2014, and 2015. He has also received the Department of the Interior’s Superior Service Award, USGS Excellence in Leadership Award, and the Shoemaker Communications Award. In 2015, he received the ASCE Government Civil Engineer of the Year Aware. Dr. Holmes has research interests and authored numerous papers in the areas of flood hydrology, surface-water hydrologic processes, river mechanics, open-channel hydraulics, and sediment transport.
Science and Products
Publications
![[title_1]](http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/pp1798d.jpg)
Annual exceedance probabilities and trends for peak streamflows and annual runoff volumes for the Central United States during the 2011 floods
Driscoll, Daniel G.; Southard, Rodney E.; Koenig, Todd A.; Bender, David A.; Holmes, Jr., Robert R.![[title_1]](http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg)
Assessment of floodplain vulnerability during extreme Mississippi River flood 2011
Goodwell, Allison E.; Zhu, Zhenduo; Dutta, Debsunder; Greenberg, Jonathan A.; Kumar, Praveen; Garcia, Marcelo H.; Rhoads, Bruce L.; Holmes, Jr., Robert R.; Parker, Gary; Berretta, David P.; Jacobson, Robert B.![[title_1]](http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/fs20133082.jpg)
Natural Hazards Science at the U.S. Geological Survey
Perry, Suzanne C.; Jones, Lucile M.; Holmes, Jr., Robert R.![[title_1]](http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/pp1798e.gif)
Documenting the stages and streamflows associated with the 2011 activation of the New Madrid Floodway, Missouri: Chapter E in 2011 floods of the central United States
Koenig, Todd A.; Holmes, Jr., Robert R.