Lucas Thompson
EIT
Staff Environmental Engineer
When solutions are elusive, first ask if you’ve asked the right questions.
Hired
- 2024
Location
- Portland, OR
Expertise
Lucas spends a lot of time in the field investigating and documenting potential environmental issues. He collects samples, diagnoses problems, and develops remediation strategies to address contamination as efficiently as possible. As an environmental engineer, Lucas understands the complex relationship between the needs of our modern society, the sensitive ecosystems we depend on, and the regulations and policies that balance them.
“I like analyzing a problem,” Lucas says, “figuring out what information is pertinent, assessing that information, and then producing something useful out of it.”
Lucas’s interest in environmental engineering was sparked during his four-year tenure with the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona as a hydrologic technician. Working closely with scientists from a variety of disciplines, Lucas gained a firsthand appreciation of our shared natural resources—and the importance of protecting them.
“I learned two things during those years,” Lucas explains. “First, water is precious. And second—most big planning decisions should go through an engineer.”
With this in mind, Lucas pivoted his career toward environmental engineering, focusing on environmental investigation and compliance for a variety of small, medium, and large companies over the years. Lucas joined GeoEngineers in 2024 with a diverse portfolio of environmental work and clients, from industrial manufacturers to school districts. Lucas values the collaborative environment at GeoEngineers, where he can continue to work with professionals from multiple disciplines and avoid feeling siloed.
In his free time, Lucas enjoys travel, cooking, and sports. A self-proclaimed foodie, he enjoys grilling and hosting small groups in his hangout-equipped backyard.
“I’m also passionate about wilderness and sustainability,” Lucas says. “I love to hike and camp, and I try to keep up with what’s happening across the west on the environmental side, whether that’s monitoring forest fires and snowpack, wildlife populations in recovery or decline, or policy decisions and outcomes.”
