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Mr. John Karhnak has been a resident of Woodbridge for over 40 years. During that time he has seen much change, such as the development of a horse farm and junk yard into Potomac Mills Mall.
Mr. Karhnak is retired after a long career as an engineer working in both the Federal Government and private industry. He has experience in a wide range of technical disciplines from developing technology for underground coal mine safety to tackling issues of radiation safety. While at the EPA, he helped develop a program with the states and Federal agencies to collect and properly dispose of radioactive devices and materials used in industry. His technical presentations at two international conferences helped bring world-wide attention to the need to control this material. Since 1999, in the U.S., more than 15,000 devices have been properly secured through the program.
Mr. Karhnak’s international work led to a position as part of the US delegation negotiating US free trade agreements. There he led EPA work to ensure that environmental considerations by our trading partners were included in the agreements.
Since his retirement, Mr. Karhnak has become interested in the Prince William County budget process and how tax money is allocated and spent. He has chaired the Budget committee for the Woodbridge District for the past five years.
Volunteering in the community for many years, Mr. Karhnak has coached youth soccer, served as president of Woodbridge Crew Club, and led the Parish Council at his church, and chaired two building committees. He continues to participate in cleanup projects along Route 1, Neabsco Creek, Marumsco Acres Park, and Veteran’s Park.
Mr. Karhnak is the past Chairman of the Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association (WPCCA). The WPCCA was started in October of 2008 by volunteers who wanted to see a New Woodbridge and were willing to work together to develop a plan to improve the community. The Civic Association’s purpose is to unite the communities of the Woodbridge District and address issues such as Transportation, Redevelopment, and Land Use. The Association also participates in other civic matters throughout Prince William County, Virginia.