Miroslava Garza currently serves as the Assistant to the Executive Director/Harris County Engineer. In this capacity, she leads executive-level administrative functions encompassing responsibilities that support the effectiveness and efficiency of the Office of the County Engineer. Serving as the primary point of contact for constituents on matters related to the County Engineer, Ms. Garza ensures support and alignment with organizational goals. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, strategic planning, organizational development, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and administration.

Ms. Garza’s exemplary 15-year career at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) highlights her capability to provide invaluable support to the field of science, technology, engineering, and math by supporting United States astronauts and national leaders alike. She expertly navigated complex administrative challenges, honing her skills in streamlining processes and implementing solutions that enhanced organizational efficiency. Her outstanding contributions were recognized by NASA when being awarded the Space Flight Awareness Award. This award is presented to a recipient who excelled in the role of promoting astronaut safety and mission success by communicating and educating the government/industry workforce about human space flight.

Her leadership and organizational acumen continue to drive the ongoing success and operational excellence of the office she serves today.

Dr. Emma Santa Maria is an experienced executive leader with extensive expertise in executive administration, policy development, business operations, public policy, human resources, litigation, compliance, and organizational effectiveness. She has a proven track record of driving high-impact initiatives at the state level, ensuring policies and programs align seamlessly with strategic objectives.

With deep expertise in budget management, compliance, administration, and stakeholder engagement, Dr. Santa Maria is dedicated to fostering efficient, collaborative, and results-driven environments. She is known for her ability to bridge policy and execution, enhancing communication and coordination across all levels of government and organizations.

Before joining the Office of the County Engineer in 2022, Dr. Santa Maria spent 20 years in leadership roles within the State of Texas and higher education, spearheading initiatives that enhanced operational effectiveness and policy implementation. She holds a Ph.D. in Administration from the University of the Incarnate Word and a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry.

Dr. Bashar Ahmed is the Chief Financial Officer at the Office of the County Engineer (OCE), where he leads the financial strategy for over $3.6 billion in capital projects. With extensive experience in public procurement, contract management, and financial forecasting, he ensures that OCE operations are aligned with county regulations and financial goals.

Dr. Ahmed is committed to enhancing procurement processes, promoting inclusive contracting, and supporting minority- and women-owned businesses through strategic initiatives. His leadership also extends to improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, all while driving the county’s long-term financial planning and risk management efforts.

William (Erwin) E. Burden Jr., P.E. is the Chief of Engineering and Architectural Services at the Office of the County Engineer. With nearly 33 years of experience in project engineering, design, and construction, Erwin focuses on infrastructure projects that reduce flooding and remove repetitive loss structures from the floodplain. He has worked for various Texas cities, including Temple, Pasadena, San Antonio, Conroe, and Baytown. Chief Erwin has managed multiple divisions, including as Chief Stormwater Engineer for San Antonio and overseeing the Little Cypress Creek Frontier Program with HCFCD. Before joining OCE, he was the City Engineer in Baytown and also served as Assistant Director of the Recovery and Resiliency Division and Senior Director of Capital Projects at OCE. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and a nationally certified Floodplain Manager.

Samuel Peña currently serves as Chief of Disaster Recovery, Safety, and Building Operations Services at the Office of the County Engineer. With over 30 years of distinguished public safety experience, he previously held the position of Fire Chief for the City of Houston Fire Department. In this role, he successfully managed emergency responses to major events including Super Bowl 51, multiple World Series, Hurricane Harvey, Winter Storm Uri, and various other natural disasters. As a credentialed paramedic and PEER Assessor for the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Peña maintains extensive technical certifications in firefighting, hazardous materials, confined space rescue, and emergency services instruction. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Texas-El Paso.

Cassandra Green, P.E., ENV SP serves as the Director for the Technical Services Division. Cassandra has successfully led the delivery of 100’s of Capital Projects for Office of the County Engineer. Over the last 25 years, Cassandra has served in various roles with the Office of the County Engineer. To name a few, she has recently served as Interim Director for Technical Services Division and prior to that she has served as Senior Manager for Special Projects, Interim Manager of Capital Projects Infrastructure-Horizontal (CPI-H) and Team Lead for the Road & Bridge CPI-H Pct 2 Team. Cassandra is a professional engineer, an envision sustainability professional and holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Dr. Patrick Mandapaka serves as the Director of Community Planning and Transportation at the Office of the County Engineer, overseeing Planning, Traffic Engineering, Traffic Signal Maintenance and Operations, and Grants divisions. With over 20 years of urban planning and policy experience, he plays a key role in advancing Vision Zero, transportation, parks, and infrastructure planning initiatives. Patrick serves on the City of Houston’s Planning Commission, the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s (H-GAC) Transportation Advisory Committee, and Houston TranStar’s Leadership Committee. Before his current role, he was the Assistant Director for Transportation at H-GAC and previously worked as a Principal Planner at the North Central Texas Council of Governments. He holds a Doctorate in Urban Planning and Public Policy and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from UT Arlington, along with a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Andhra University. Patrick is an AICP-certified planner with professional certifications in GIS and Architectural CADD.