Posted on September 9, 2021
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters, in Washington D.C., recently selected St. Paul District deputy district counsel and St. Paul, Minnesota resident, Vinai Vinlander as the recipient of the Joseph W. Kimbel award. The award recognizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attorney who demonstrates the highest professional potential for future legal achievement.
Vinlander joined the St. Paul District in 2018. As the deputy district counsel, Vinlander serves as part of the office of counsel leadership team and regularly provides advice in the areas of civil works, interagency support agreements and regulatory. Prior to joining the district, he was an assistant division counsel at the Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division and previously served as a legal extern in the Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division.
Prior to entering federal service, Vinlander practiced with a private law firm in New York from 2004 to 2013. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin, and a Master of Law in environmental and natural resources law from Lewis and Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon.
“Mr. Vinlander is truly an outstanding attorney and a very deserving recipient of this distinguished award. Since joining the Saint Paul District in 2018 he has demonstrated superb leadership and unlimited potential,” said John Carrell, district counsel. “He is an expert in environmental law and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works program. He is a dedicated and selfless employee, and he brings a positive atmosphere to work every single day.”
