The Federal Way City Council confirmed EJ Walsh as the city’s new Public Works director during Tuesday night’s meeting.

Walsh, who is the deputy Public Works director responsible for the surface water, solid waste, development services and fleet divisions, will take over for Marwan Salloum, who is retiring later this year.

Salloum was hired by the city in April 1995 as an SWM project engineer and worked his way up in the department before being appointed director in June 2014.

Mayor Jim Ferrell appointed Walsh as Public Works director and the council confirmed the appointment with a unanimous vote. He will make $151,836 per year.

“EJ has consistently demonstrated over his time working for the city and overseeing several high-profile projects that he is highly capable of leading the Public Works Department,” Ferrell said in a media release. “His extensive knowledge of the needs and challenges for the region’s public works infrastructure gives our department invaluable insight.”

Walsh has consistently been recognized for achievements and key successes to advance the city of Federal Way, including managing the on-time and on-budget construction of the new Performing Arts and Event Center, leadership on behalf of the city with Sound Transit and many other initiatives and projects.

“It has been a great experience working for the city the last three years,” Walsh said in the release. “I’ve been fortunate to be part of several great projects that raise the level of the quality of life for residents, and I’m excited to be able to continue that mission as the next director of Public Works.”

Walsh is a graduate of Lehigh University’s School of Engineering in Pennsylvania. He started his career in the private sector working for a civil engineering firm focused on planning, design, owner’s construction representation and municipal representation. Leaving the private sector, Walsh transitioned to public works within city government.

Walsh has been an expert witness for numerous Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio municipalities zoning hearings and other presiding governing boards. Additionally, he has been an expert witness for multiple county planning commissions, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Hearing Board, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and numerous other agencies.

Walsh and his wife, Rachel, have two children, Eddy and Ethan. On weekends in the winter Walsh can be found on skis, either with his wife and children or as an instructor and board member for the Summit at Snoqualmie Volunteer Ski Patrols on behalf of the National Ski Patrol organization.