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Story and photos by Andrew Stamer, Public Affairs Specialist
Transatlantic Programs Center
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De Lene Shama, widow of Michael J. Shama, a former chief planner for the Corps of Engineers, shows off the photo of her husband that was used to dedicate of the USACE Deployment Center to his memory. The center was officially dedicated to Shama March 31, at the Transatlantic Programs Center in Winchester, Va. |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ deployment center was dedicated on March 31 to a former chief planner who worked at the headquarters and passed away in 2004.
The USACE Deployment Center, located at the Transatlantic Programs Center in Winchester, Va., was dedicated to the memory of Michael J. Shama, who had given 30 years of service to the nation.
Before serving his country as a civilian with the Corps of Engineers, Shama served a one-year tour as a Soldier in Vietnam, said Scott Lowdermilk, director of Plans and Operations for the Transatlantic Programs Center.
“Mike’s (Shama) contributions to the Corps of Engineers and the engineer regiment are so numerous that we cannot even begin to enumerate them,” said Lowdermilk.
Shama was considered to be a visionary. He was responsible for many Corps of Engineers’ programs vital to supporting the warfighter, said Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who was on hand for the ceremony.
The dedication of this deployment center was befitting of Shama. His job as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam was to get Soldiers into the fight and bring them back safely, Strock said.
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Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, chief of engineers, presided over the dedication of the USACE Deployment Center (UDC) to Michael J. Shama on March 31. Shama was the Corps of Engineers chief planner until 2004. |
“That’s what we do here … It’s all about preparing people for some tough environments and getting them everything they need when they get in there,” said Strock.
The center was established a year ago to prepare Corps’ civilian employees to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan to carry out engineering assignments. Deployment requirements include medical screening and shots, specific training courses, issuance of military gear and clothing, and processing pertinent paperwork.
“I’m honored to play a role in this … not just this center, but this concept, which is embodied in this center of how we project our capability on behalf of those who need us throughout the world,” said Strock.
Under Shama’s leadership, the concept of field force engineering originated. He saw there was a vast range of capabilities which could be tapped within the Corps of Engineers.
The field force engineering concept took Soldiers and civilians and trained them to be ready to deploy directly into the fight, with necessary services and support provided by their home units or another designated Corps’ organization.
“Field force engineering is now recognized as a fixed part of the Army and the Corps of Engineers’ mission,” said Strock.
Shama also was credited with formulating the initial plans for a deployment center that specifically met Corps of Engineers’ needs.
Strock and De Lene Shama, widow of Michael J. Shama, lifted a black veil to reveal a placard with Shama’s photo to make the dedication official.
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