About

Garland Speight

Born and raised in Waddell, Garland has called Arizona home for the great majority of his life.  Dedicated to serving his home state, Garland worked at the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) from 2022 through 2024, first as a Graduate Research Assistant and then as the project manager for the Water RAPIDS Program (Water Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems).   Through his work at the WRRC, Garland developed and facilitated planning and informational workshops, helped author successful grant proposals, and created data visualization tools (including data analysis and mapping) to help rural communities with integrated water and natural resources planning.  Garland demonstrated his commitment to our coproductive, partnership-based approach by volunteering with partner communities to continue planning efforts while subject to the University of Arizona’s 2023/2024 hiring freeze. Prior to working at the WRRC, Garland developed technical problem solving skills by working as an engineer developing water processing technology currently in use on the International Space Station and hardware and procedures for nuclear spent fuel disposal.  Through his time as an engineer, Garland cultivated his talents for engaging disparate groups of stakeholders to understand needs, build on common grounds, and identify solutions that address all stakeholder needs in high consequence environments.  Garland holds an M.S. in Water, Society & Policy and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of Arizona. 

Ashley Hullinger

Ashley divides her time between two watersheds: the Colorado River Basin and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. As a Water Program Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection since 2023, she has been working on state and federal levels to apply data to decision-making for the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and to meet the 2025 Total Maximum Daily Load goals. Formerly the Program Director for the Water RAPIDS Program (Water Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems) at the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), Ashley has also been working with communities and watershed partnerships in Arizona since 2014 to develop strategies in balancing human water demands alongside the water demand of the natural environment. During her time at the WRRC, Ashley led and contributed to various stakeholder-driven projects to develop accessible tools and approaches to understand local water resources situations and promote sustainable water management throughout Arizona, especially in rural watersheds. She has worked directly with communities looking at issues that span beyond physical water resources to consider the people and history that contribute to current watershed conditions. Over the years, Ashley has partnered on projects with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Climate Assessment for the Southwest, and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, as well as various non-profits, local governments, and water utilities. Ashley is a 2020 Flinn-Brown Fellow and holds an M.S. in Urban Planning from the University of Arizona and undergraduate degrees in History and Geography from the University of Kansas.

Aaron Speight

Aaron brings over a decade of experience in software development and management, with a strong focus on leveraging large datasets to extract meaningful insights and drive data-informed decisions. He has a proven track record in defining and executing product strategies, managing cross-functional teams, and driving technical roadmaps. Adept at consulting with stakeholders and translating business requirements into actionable solutions, Aaron excels in optimizing systems for continuous improvement. His ability to analyze user needs, collaborate across teams, and deliver innovative solutions is well-demonstrated. With a deep technical understanding and hands-on experience in digital systems, Aaron is equipped to contribute significantly to PDP’s strategy and vision.