Tetra Tech, Inc. announced today that Neal Rackleff has joined its Disaster Recovery practice as senior vice president. He will oversee Tetra Tech’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) programs. Tetra Tech is a leading provider of emergency management services, including disaster response and recovery.

Prior to joining Tetra Tech, Mr. Rackleff served as Assistant Secretary of the Office of Community Planning and Development with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this capacity, he led the $35.4 billion long-term CDBG disaster recovery efforts in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other areas impacted by disasters including hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. He also oversaw the CDBG, HOME Investments Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grants, Continuum of Care, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, and other housing and community development programs nationally.

While serving as the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development for Houston, Texas, Mr. Rackleff successfully implemented a $178-million CDBG-DR program involving innovative infrastructure and multifamily development, along with award-winning, single-family reconstruction efforts. During his tenure, Houston became the first major city in the United States to effectively end veterans’ homelessness, and chronic homelessness was reduced by 73 percent.

“I’m very pleased to have Mr. Rackleff join our organization,” said Jonathan Burgiel, president of Tetra Tech’s Disaster Recovery Practice. “His knowledge and expertise leading complex HUD CDBG-DR programs will be invaluable to our current and future clients.”

Tetra Tech has assisted more than 300 state and local clients with the recovery of more than $6 billion in post-disaster grants. Tetra Tech uses state-of-the-art technology, quality assurance, and established best practices during the HUD CDBG-DR funding process to ensure rapid response, compliance, and cost-effective recovery for its clients.

Mr. Rackleff said, “I look forward to working with the Tetra Tech team to provide innovative, technology-based solutions to help communities implement their disaster programs as quickly and cost-effectively as possible to support residents rapidly return to normalcy.”