Jim Bersson, P.E., SES(Ret)
Jim Bersson founded Bersson & Constantaras LLC with Andy Constantaras in early 2016. Previously, he served as a Senior Executive in the US Army Corps of Engineers, from which he retired in 2015 after 40 years of service.
Mr. Bersson has extensive experience with Federal and Defense engineering, environmental, energy and planning work throughout the Pacific, Europe and in contingency environments. He was recognized for his engineering and contracting expertise with numerous awards from the Department of the Army, the Joint Staff and the US Army Corps of Engineers. He was selected to represent the Corps of Engineers with the State Department, US Agency for International Development, and selected combatant commands.
Mr. Bersson retired from the position of Director of Regional Business for the Corps of Engineers’ Pacific Ocean Division. As Director, he provided executive leadership and direction for the Division and its subordinate districts in Honolulu, Alaska, Japan, and Korea. He directed and oversaw the Corps international support to the Pacific Command, the State Department, and USAID in the areas of water security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region.
As a Senior Executive Mr. Bersson was deployed to Afghanistan as Director of the US Forces Joint Programs Integration Office, responsible for all major Department of Defense construction in the country, environmental policy, and civil infrastructure development in coordination with Afghan ministries and other US and international agencies. Following his deployment, Mr. Bersson served as the Director of Programs for the Corps of Engineers’ Transatlantic Division, where he directed and oversaw execution of military construction, foreign military sales, and other programs throughout the Middle East.
Mr. Bersson was previously the Honolulu District Deputy District Engineer for Program Management and the Chief of Engineering and Construction. In those positions he was responsible for execution of all military, civil works, and environmental work performed by the district, as well as dam safety and the Corps’ regulatory program. Earlier in his career he held a variety of leadership and technical positions in the Corps’ Headquarters and its Pacific Ocean, Europe, and North Atlantic Divisions.
Mr. Bersson is a civil engineering graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. He is a Fellow in the Society of American Military Engineers and former Honolulu Post Director and vice-president, and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Virginia. He received numerous awards in his career, to include the Joint Chiefs of Staff Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Superior Civilian Award, and Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.