The York Water Company’s JT Hand to Serve as National Association of Water Companies Board Chair in 2027
AUSTIN – JT Hand, President and CEO of The York Water Company, will take over as the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC), effective January 2027. A respected leader within the association, Hand is a current Board Vice Chair and previously served two terms as chair of the Pennsylvania Chapter of NAWC. The 2027 leadership team was confirmed last week at the NAWC Annual Water Summit in Austin.
“We are thrilled to welcome JT Hand as Chair of the NAWC Board of Directors,” said NAWC President and CEO Robert F. Powelson. “JT brings an incredible depth of operational expertise, engineering insight and regulatory acumen to this leadership role. Having served with distinction as Vice Chair and as a long-time champion of our industry at both the state and national levels, his strategic vision will be invaluable as NAWC advocates for essential infrastructure investment and highlights the critical contributions of regulated, private water companies nationwide. The York Water Company was a founding member of NAWC over 130 years ago, so it’s an especially historic moment to welcome JT into this new role.”
Hand brings a wealth of executive and operational experience to his role as Board Chair. As the 22nd President and CEO of The York Water Company, a position he has held since March 2020 after serving 12 years as Chief Operating Officer, he directs all strategic growth, environmental stewardship and operational initiatives for the company. Prior to entering the private water sector in 2008, Hand served 22 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, culminating in his assignment as Deputy Commander and Deputy District Engineer for the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“It is a privilege to step into the role of NAWC Board Chair and lead our association during such a pivotal era for water infrastructure. Over the past 130 years of membership, The York Water Company has seen the immense value from our partnership with NAWC,” said Hand. “The recent cyberattacks on water systems across the country show the indispensable role private water companies must play in safeguarding public health, protecting the environment and sustaining the economic vitality of our communities. As Chair, I look forward to working alongside NAWC’s leadership and staff, the board and our member companies to advance policies that spur proactive infrastructure investment and ensure safe, reliable and affordable water services for the millions of Americans we serve every day.”
Recognized as a Central Penn Business Journal’s CPBJ 300 business leader, Hand is deeply engaged in community leadership, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the York County History Center and on several regional nonprofit boards. Hand earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering as a distinguished military graduate from the University of Vermont and holds a Master of Business Administration from York College of Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Defense Language Institute.