From 1969 - 2002: he worked for the State of Michigan, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (formerly with the Michigan Department of Public Health) in the public water supply supervision program. This program provides state oversight of all public water supplies, including design, construction and operation.

In 2002 Cleland was assigned to Assistant Chief, Water Division, DEQ, where all the major water programs reside, including drinking water, wastewater (NPDES) and ground water.

When the drinking water program was incorporated into the DEQ, he became the Assistant Chief, Drinking Water & Radiological Protection Division. That position supervised approximately 185 employees in major state programs including: public water system supervision, environmental health, DEQ laboratory, ground water protection and radiological health.

In 2004 Cleland became the Lansing Operations Division Chief, Water Bureau with supervisory responsibilities for major state programs involving approximately 350 employees, including: public water system supervision, NPDES permits, ground water protection, ground water discharge permits, storm water, nonpoint source control, soil erosion and sedimentation, aquatic nuisance control and environmental health.

Education
1968 - B.S. Engineering (Environmental) from University of Michigan (honors)
1969 - M.S. Engineering (Environmental) from University of Michigan (honors)
1972 - Registered Professional Engineer in Michigan

Career highlights:

• Federal appointment to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council - a 15 member council with representatives of the drinking water industry appointed from all across the nation
• AWWA Honorary Membership - the 12th person from Michigan receiving this honor dating back to 1938
• Appointed by Governor Blanchard to the Public Investment Coordination Task Force ? I was the Department of Public Health representative with knowledge of public water systems
• As President of ASDWA in 1996, worked with Congress in the reauthorization of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act

Organization Affiliations
American Water Works Association
National Society of Professional Engineers
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators

Awards and Honors
AWWA George Warren Fuller Award - 1991
AWWA Raymond J. Faust Award - 1979
Michigan Society of Professional Engineers Award - 1979
President - Association of State Drinking Water Administrators - 1996
Chairman - Regulatory Agencies Division AWWA - 1990-91
Member - National Drinking Water Advisory Council - 1996-1998
Member - Regulatory Agencies Division AWWA - 1984 - 1998
Member - Technical & Educational Council AWWA - 1991- 1998
Member - Joint NSF Advisory Committee on Drinking Water Additives- 1995-Present
Member ? NSF Environmental Technology Verification Advisory Committee- 2003-Present
Secretary-Treasurer, Michigan Section AWWA - 1982-87
Member - Tau Beta Pi and Chi Epsilon National Honorary Engineering Societies
AWWA and MSPE ? Life Member
AWWA Honorary Member ? 2001
Jack A. Borchardt Award - 2005

Family and Interests
My wife, Barbara, and James have two children. James Jr. is a chemical engineering graduate of University of Michigan and an Indiana University law school graduate (May 1997) in intellectual property (patent) law. He is employed by a patent law firm in Ann Arbor. Christine is a December 1996 graduate of Albion College in education and an August 2001 graduate of Michigan State University with an M.A. in athletic administration. She is employed by the Mason school district. Both children are married and each has one child.