February 4, 2025

New MFDA Executive Director on the Job

FARGO, ND (February 4, 2025) – The new executive director for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority formally started in the position this week, although he has been a part of the FM Area Diversion project since 2010. Jason Benson was selected from a large field of candidates in October 2024. At that time, he was on a deployment to the Middle East as a brigadier general with the Minnesota Army National Guard.

“It’s great to be back in the United States and working on engineering projects again,” Benson said. “I’m looking forward to being able to work more extensively on this project and am confident that my past experience coupled with the great team we have in place will help me get up to speed quickly.”

For the past 24 years, Benson has worked for the Cass County Highway Department. He began there in 2000 and has been the county engineer since 2011. In that role, he served as a senior technical advisor for the FM Area Diversion project.

“We’re fortunate to have somebody of Jason’s caliber and experience on this project,” said MFDA Board Chairman Tony Grindberg, a Cass County commissioner. “We’ve had some great success this past year, when we pushed past 60% of construction being completed on the FM Area Diversion project. Under his leadership, we will see that continue, but we will also need to begin to focus on shifting components to the operations and maintenance stage this year.”

Benson is a professional engineer who earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo; a master’s degree in management from the University of Mary, Fargo campus; and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania.

The MFDA’s co-executive directors – Michael Redlinger, City of Fargo administrator, and Robert Wilson, Cass County administrator – have filled the executive director role since April 2024.

Media Availability

Jason Benson will be available at the following times to speak with members of the media. Please call, text or email Amy Wieser Willson at 218-535-5359 or amy@neonloon.com to schedule a time slot.

1:30-3:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, February 4, 2025

1:30-3:30 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Photo and bio can be downloaded at Jason Benson, PE | Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

About the Metro Flood Diversion Authority

The MFDA is a permanent North Dakota political subdivision that is cooperatively implementing the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion comprehensive project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The MFDA works in partnership with the Red River Valley Alliance in a public-private partnership as well as the City of Fargo, City of Moorhead, Cass County, Clay County and the Cass County Joint Water Resource District. More information is available at www.FMDiversion.gov.