Christopher O. Ward

Ward was born in Princeton, New Jersey on October 11, 1954, the son of Barbara Carnes and academic John William Ward. John was chair of the Special Program in American Civilization at Princeton University, and later served as president of Amherst College from 1971–1979, during which time it became mixed-sex. John also ran the Ward Commission to investigate political corruption in construction contracts in Massachusetts, a position to which he was appointed by Michael Dukakis.^{[1][independent source needed]}

Ward attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1976. He worked as a mechanic on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico for Pennzoil before attending Harvard Divinity School, where he received a Master of Theological Studies.^[2][3] His elder brother is David C. Ward. He is married to Pamela Cook. They have two children, Katherine and John.

During the Ed Koch administration, Ward worked at the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs as director of research from 1982 to 1988. From 1988 to 1992, he was an assistant commissioner for the New York City Department of Telecommunications and Energy.

During the David Dinkins administration, Ward worked on the city's negotiations with Consolidated Edison and Hydro-Québec regarding the expansion of the hydropower system in Northern Canada. He also worked as senior vice president for transportation and commerce at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) from 1992 to 1995.^[4] During his tenure at the NYCEDC, Ward worked on acquiring the Staten Island Railway to re-establish rail freight service to the Howland Hook Marine Terminal.^[5][6]

During the Michael Bloomberg administration, Ward served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection from 2002 to 2005.^[4] As commissioner, he worked on the Long Island Sound Nitrogen Reduction Program, federal approval of the Filtration Avoidance Agreement for the Protection and Water Quality of the Upstate Reservoir System, and the funding and completion of the Manhattan segment of the third water tunnel.^[7][8]

Ward was director of Business Development of American Stevedoring, a shipping company based in Red Hook, Brooklyn, from 1996 to 1997.^[9] Ward returned to the private sector, as CEO of the same company, from 2005 to 2006. Ward then moved on to work as the managing director of the General Contractors Association of New York.^[3]

Ward's work since his return to the private sector in 2011 has been focused on expanding MWBE (Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises Program) business and continuing to improve New York City environmental infrastructure.^[10][11] He served as chair of the Waterfront Alliance from 2016 to 2024.^[12] In the role of chairman of the Waterfront Alliance, Ward advocated for a more accessible New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary as well as a long term resilience strategy in the face of climate change.^[13] Ward is also on the board of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.^[14]