For more than a century, the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) has built its reputation on research, technical expertise, and service to the water industry. That work remains at the heart of DIPRA’s mission today, and the Association is proud to announce the promotions of Gregg Horn to Senior Vice President of Research and Josh Blount to Vice President of Technical Resources.
The promotions recognize the leadership, experience, and technical expertise Gregg and Josh bring to two of DIPRA’s most important areas of work.
“These are critical roles for DIPRA and for the future of the Ductile iron pipe industry,” said DIPRA President David Cole. “We are fortunate to have Gregg and Josh leading these efforts, and we look forward to what they will accomplish in their new positions.”
Gregg Horn to Lead DIPRA’s Research Efforts
As Senior Vice President of Research, Gregg will lead DIPRA’s research activities involving Ductile iron pipe as well as comparative research on substitute materials.
His responsibilities will encompass the full scope of DIPRA’s Research Program, from developing and overseeing new and ongoing research projects to evaluating the program’s performance and managing the annual research budget. Gregg will also oversee research activities designed to support municipal specification development and help ensure that the findings of DIPRA research are translated into presentations, technical papers, articles, and other resources for DIPRA and its member companies.
Gregg will also play a key role in DIPRA’s technical committee work, facilitating meetings of the Technical Committee, Environmental Subcommittee, and other ad hoc committees addressing standards activities, research and technical issues related to the promotion and advancement of Ductile iron pipe.
His role extends beyond research itself. Gregg will assist in establishing the overall direction for DIPRA’s Research, Technical Programs and Regional Engineer Program and will work closely with the President, Josh, and DIPRA’s member companies to develop and implement initiatives that advance the Association and the Ductile iron pipe industry.
Gregg will also participate in and support the development and revision of national and international standards for Ductile iron pipe, including standards and practices developed through organizations such as AWWA, ISO, ASTM, NACE, and ASCE. He will help develop research and promotional strategies that strengthen the competitiveness of Ductile iron pipe and support DIPRA’s broader strategic initiatives.
Gregg has dedicated 40 years to DIPRA, where he has overseen the association’s research projects as well as leading its Regional Engineer program. He joined DIPRA in 1986 as a Regional Engineer, was promoted to Director of Regional Engineers in 1990, and assumed the role of Vice President of Technical Resources in 2013. In that leadership role, Gregg worked closely with water utilities and others to conduct research at DIPRA test sites and in-service pipelines to advance understanding of the performance, value, and longevity of Ductile iron water mains. He is a Life Member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and has served on numerous committees and subcommittees within AWWA, ASCE, ASTM and ISO.
Josh Blount to Lead Technical Resources and Regional Engineers
As Vice President of Technical Resources, Josh will provide leadership and management for DIPRA’s technical personnel and resources, with a particular focus on maximizing the contributions of the Association’s technical team.
One of his most significant responsibilities will be supervision of the Regional Engineer Program and all Regional Engineer staff. Josh will oversee the program’s planning, budget and performance and facilitate weekly Regional Engineer meetings. He will also serve as lead staff on DIPRA’s Technical Committee.
Josh’s responsibilities will also include developing and training technical personnel, working with the Director of Special Projects to build a highly effective research and technical team. He will oversee technical programs designed to provide technical support for municipal specification development, including promotional presentations, technical papers, articles, and other materials used by DIPRA and its member companies.
Standards development will be another important part of Josh’s role. Working with Gregg, he will actively participate in the development and revision of national and international standards for Ductile iron pipe, including AWWA, ISO, ASTM, NACE, and ASCE standards and engineering practices.
Josh will also help advance DIPRA’s technical communications by managing and coordinating articles for industry trade publications, making recommendations for technical and promotional initiatives, and overseeing technical responses to publications containing inaccurate or incomplete information about Ductile iron pipe.
Josh joined DIPRA in 2015 as a Staff Engineer/Project Manager and has advanced through roles as Regional Engineer, Senior Regional Engineer and, since 2022, Regional Director. In that role, he provided technical guidance to water and wastewater utility professionals and consulting engineers on system planning, design, installation and asset management related to Ductile iron pipe. Josh also provided technical training and presentations, connected industry professionals with relevant technical resources, and helped continue to strengthen DIPRA's relationships across the water infrastructure industry. He is a member of AWWA, and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). At ASCE, he serves on the Seismic Design for Buried Pipelines technical committee for the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI) Pipelines division.
The Connection Between Research and Technical Resources
While Gregg and Josh will have distinct areas of responsibility, their roles are closely connected.
They will work together to ensure DIPRA’s research program and technical activities are coordinated and aligned with the Association’s strategies and industry best practices. Josh will also work with Gregg on research projects and technical promotion, helping ensure research findings can effectively support DIPRA’s technical programs and member companies.
That collaboration is particularly important as DIPRA continues to navigate an evolving water infrastructure industry. Research, technical expertise, standards development, and direct engagement with engineers and municipalities all play an important role in helping the industry understand the benefits to the proper application of Ductile iron pipe.
“The Regional Engineer Program, Research and Technical Services continue to be the backbone of our organization, as they have been for more than 100 years,” said DIPRA President David Cole. “Gregg and Josh have demonstrated the knowledge, leadership and commitment necessary to build on that strong foundation. These promotions position us well to continue delivering the research, technical expertise and industry support that our members and the water infrastructure community depend on.”
Building on More Than a Century of Expertise
Founded in 1915, DIPRA has spent more than 100 years serving as a resource and technical advisor to the water industry. Its work includes technical research, education, advocacy, participation on standards-making committees, and the Regional Engineer Program.
Those responsibilities have evolved over the decades, but DIPRA’s fundamental role has remained consistent: providing the research, technical expertise and industry knowledge necessary to advance Ductile iron pipe and support the professionals who design and build water and wastewater infrastructure.
Gregg and Josh’s new roles build on that foundation while positioning DIPRA for the future. Together, their leadership will strengthen the connection between research, technical services and the Regional Engineer Program, ensuring DIPRA continues to provide the expertise and resources the water industry has relied upon for more than a century.
About DIPRA
Founded in 1915, the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) has served as a resource and technical advisor to the water industry. DIPRA provides representation on standards-making committees as well as technical research on a variety of application-based topics. While DIPRA member companies have different names and locations, they share a common commitment to produce and deliver the finest quality water and wastewater pipe material in the world - Ductile iron pipe – at the greatest possible value to its purchasers.
The promotions recognize the leadership, experience, and technical expertise Gregg and Josh bring to two of DIPRA’s most important areas of work.
“These are critical roles for DIPRA and for the future of the Ductile iron pipe industry,” said DIPRA President David Cole. “We are fortunate to have Gregg and Josh leading these efforts, and we look forward to what they will accomplish in their new positions.”
Gregg Horn to Lead DIPRA’s Research Efforts
As Senior Vice President of Research, Gregg will lead DIPRA’s research activities involving Ductile iron pipe as well as comparative research on substitute materials.
His responsibilities will encompass the full scope of DIPRA’s Research Program, from developing and overseeing new and ongoing research projects to evaluating the program’s performance and managing the annual research budget. Gregg will also oversee research activities designed to support municipal specification development and help ensure that the findings of DIPRA research are translated into presentations, technical papers, articles, and other resources for DIPRA and its member companies.
Gregg will also play a key role in DIPRA’s technical committee work, facilitating meetings of the Technical Committee, Environmental Subcommittee, and other ad hoc committees addressing standards activities, research and technical issues related to the promotion and advancement of Ductile iron pipe.
His role extends beyond research itself. Gregg will assist in establishing the overall direction for DIPRA’s Research, Technical Programs and Regional Engineer Program and will work closely with the President, Josh, and DIPRA’s member companies to develop and implement initiatives that advance the Association and the Ductile iron pipe industry.
Gregg will also participate in and support the development and revision of national and international standards for Ductile iron pipe, including standards and practices developed through organizations such as AWWA, ISO, ASTM, NACE, and ASCE. He will help develop research and promotional strategies that strengthen the competitiveness of Ductile iron pipe and support DIPRA’s broader strategic initiatives.
Gregg has dedicated 40 years to DIPRA, where he has overseen the association’s research projects as well as leading its Regional Engineer program. He joined DIPRA in 1986 as a Regional Engineer, was promoted to Director of Regional Engineers in 1990, and assumed the role of Vice President of Technical Resources in 2013. In that leadership role, Gregg worked closely with water utilities and others to conduct research at DIPRA test sites and in-service pipelines to advance understanding of the performance, value, and longevity of Ductile iron water mains. He is a Life Member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and has served on numerous committees and subcommittees within AWWA, ASCE, ASTM and ISO.
Josh Blount to Lead Technical Resources and Regional Engineers
As Vice President of Technical Resources, Josh will provide leadership and management for DIPRA’s technical personnel and resources, with a particular focus on maximizing the contributions of the Association’s technical team.
One of his most significant responsibilities will be supervision of the Regional Engineer Program and all Regional Engineer staff. Josh will oversee the program’s planning, budget and performance and facilitate weekly Regional Engineer meetings. He will also serve as lead staff on DIPRA’s Technical Committee.
Josh’s responsibilities will also include developing and training technical personnel, working with the Director of Special Projects to build a highly effective research and technical team. He will oversee technical programs designed to provide technical support for municipal specification development, including promotional presentations, technical papers, articles, and other materials used by DIPRA and its member companies.
Standards development will be another important part of Josh’s role. Working with Gregg, he will actively participate in the development and revision of national and international standards for Ductile iron pipe, including AWWA, ISO, ASTM, NACE, and ASCE standards and engineering practices.
Josh will also help advance DIPRA’s technical communications by managing and coordinating articles for industry trade publications, making recommendations for technical and promotional initiatives, and overseeing technical responses to publications containing inaccurate or incomplete information about Ductile iron pipe.
Josh joined DIPRA in 2015 as a Staff Engineer/Project Manager and has advanced through roles as Regional Engineer, Senior Regional Engineer and, since 2022, Regional Director. In that role, he provided technical guidance to water and wastewater utility professionals and consulting engineers on system planning, design, installation and asset management related to Ductile iron pipe. Josh also provided technical training and presentations, connected industry professionals with relevant technical resources, and helped continue to strengthen DIPRA's relationships across the water infrastructure industry. He is a member of AWWA, and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). At ASCE, he serves on the Seismic Design for Buried Pipelines technical committee for the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI) Pipelines division.
The Connection Between Research and Technical Resources
While Gregg and Josh will have distinct areas of responsibility, their roles are closely connected.
They will work together to ensure DIPRA’s research program and technical activities are coordinated and aligned with the Association’s strategies and industry best practices. Josh will also work with Gregg on research projects and technical promotion, helping ensure research findings can effectively support DIPRA’s technical programs and member companies.
That collaboration is particularly important as DIPRA continues to navigate an evolving water infrastructure industry. Research, technical expertise, standards development, and direct engagement with engineers and municipalities all play an important role in helping the industry understand the benefits to the proper application of Ductile iron pipe.
“The Regional Engineer Program, Research and Technical Services continue to be the backbone of our organization, as they have been for more than 100 years,” said DIPRA President David Cole. “Gregg and Josh have demonstrated the knowledge, leadership and commitment necessary to build on that strong foundation. These promotions position us well to continue delivering the research, technical expertise and industry support that our members and the water infrastructure community depend on.”
Building on More Than a Century of Expertise
Founded in 1915, DIPRA has spent more than 100 years serving as a resource and technical advisor to the water industry. Its work includes technical research, education, advocacy, participation on standards-making committees, and the Regional Engineer Program.
Those responsibilities have evolved over the decades, but DIPRA’s fundamental role has remained consistent: providing the research, technical expertise and industry knowledge necessary to advance Ductile iron pipe and support the professionals who design and build water and wastewater infrastructure.
Gregg and Josh’s new roles build on that foundation while positioning DIPRA for the future. Together, their leadership will strengthen the connection between research, technical services and the Regional Engineer Program, ensuring DIPRA continues to provide the expertise and resources the water industry has relied upon for more than a century.
About DIPRA
Founded in 1915, the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) has served as a resource and technical advisor to the water industry. DIPRA provides representation on standards-making committees as well as technical research on a variety of application-based topics. While DIPRA member companies have different names and locations, they share a common commitment to produce and deliver the finest quality water and wastewater pipe material in the world - Ductile iron pipe – at the greatest possible value to its purchasers.
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