2017 40 Under 40: Michael P. Walton, PE, DGCP; 37

Director of Advanced Power Systems, Burns Engineering Inc.

By Jack Smith, Content Manager, and Amara Rozgus, Editor-in-Chief May 15, 2017

Michael P. Walton, PE, DGCP; 37

Director of Advanced Power Systems, Burns Engineering Inc., Philadelphia

BS Electrical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia

Walton is the director of advanced power systems at Burns Engineering in Philadelphia. He began at the firm in 2001 as an intern while studying at Drexel University. He showed the drive and desire to be successful and was brought on full time after graduating in 2003. He has now spent more than 15 years working at Burns on major power systems projects in aviation, transit, higher education, and water/wastewater. After Hurricane Sandy, he saw an opportunity to mitigate the impact of extended power outages as a result of extreme weather events and developed Burns’ Advanced Power Systems Group. Walton has the unique ability to see and create opportunities and never hesitates to step into a leadership role to ensure things are accomplished. Walton is very active in professional organizations, such as the IEEE, International District Energy Association, and the Greater Philadelphia Association of Energy Engineers, where he is a volunteering member of the board. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, whether it is coaching his son’s little league team, skiing with the family, cheering on the Philadelphia Phillies or Eagles, or barbecuing in the backyard. Walton also volunteers at his church for service in the community, which includes sorting clothing for homeless shelters, coordinating food and clothing donations during the holidays for those in need, or helping elderly members of the church community finish yardwork.