Dr. Robert Holmes serves as the Chief of the Branch of Hydrodynamics and the National Flood Hazard Specialist and Coordinator for the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS). Additionally he holds an academic appointment as an Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). 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. As the Chief of the Branch of Hydrodynamics, he oversees USGS research and scientific investigations in the areas of open-channel hydraulics, erosion, sedimentation, and geomorphology. Prior to his current position, he served for 9 years as the Director of the USGS Illinois Water Science Center. 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 (ASCE), a Fellow of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) , a member of the American Geophysical Union, a member of the International Hydrological Science Association, 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. 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 Award. 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.