Keynote Speaker

Cynthia Delaney Palomares, P.G.,P.E.

Ms. Palomares has over 30 years of experience as both an Engineering Geologist and Environmental Engineer. Her last position was as an Adjunct Instructor (retired), at Texas A&M University, Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) in College Station, TX, from 2016 –2020. As an adjunct instructor, Ms. Palomares conducted training courses for environmental professionals for certification of Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. Prior to working for TEEX, Ms. Palomares was a Project Manager, at Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX, from 1993 –2016. As a project manager in the Industrial & Hazardous Waste Permits Section, Ms. Palomares reviewed and evaluated hazardous waste permit applications, compliance reports and notices of waste management activities for both regulatory and technical completeness to ensure compliance with applicable hazardous waste, radioactive waste and Texas Risk Reduction Program rules and regulations. In addition, Ms. Palomares was a member of the Waste Permits Division Disaster Response team and was also a project manager for RCRA Authorization rule projects that adopt EPA hazardous waste amendments into Texas Administrative Code regulations. Prior to her position as a project manager in the I&HW Permits Section, Ms. Palomares conducted technical reviews and processed applications for underground injection control (UIC) and in situ leachate uranium mining facilities in the UIC/Radioactive Waste Section of the TCEQ. In 2016, Ms. Palomares was recognized for 25 years of service with the State of Texas. Prior to employment with the TCEQ, Ms. Palomares was employed as a staff scientist for Westinghouse Hanford Company in Richland, Washington for 3 years. Ms. Palomares earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Geology from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, and a Master of Science in Engineering Geology from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX in 1990. She is both a licensed Professional Geologist and Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas.

AEG Experience

AEG Experience: Ms. Palomares joined AEG in 1986 as a student member of the Lone Star student chapter at Texas A&M University. In 1990, she was awarded the “Best Student Presentation Award” at the Texas Section Spring Meeting. In 2011, she was awarded the “Floyd T. Johnston Outstanding Engineering Geologist Award” at the Texas Section Fall Meeting. In 2022, she was awarded the Association-level “Floyd T. Johnston Outstanding Engineering Geologist Award” at the AEG Annual Awards Banquet in Las Vegas, Nevada. Service to AEG includes the following positions: Lone Star Student Chapter Officer (1986-1990), Washington Section Field Trip Coordinator (1991-1993), Texas Section Board (2001-2012), 2010 Shlemon Specialty Conference Chair on “Gulf Coast Subsidence and Sea-level Rise”, Governance Committee member (2010-2012), Section/Chapter Support Committee Chair (2012-2018), AEG Strategic Planning Committee Co-Chair (2014-2016) , DEI Committee Member (2020-present), AEG Executive Council (2016-2021), Floyd T. Johnston Outstanding Engineering Geologist Award (2022), AEG/GSA Dr. Richard H. Jahn’s Distinguished Lecturer in Environmental and Engineering Geology (2023-2024.)