Representing Commissioner Bob Johnson on July 1, Technical Services Director Michael Gabaldon presented Superior Service Awards to three deserving TSC employees. The awards recognized Dave Paul, Dick LaFond, and Carlton Smith for their outstanding contributions to Reclamation and engineering.

Dave Paul

Dave Paul (Estimating, Specifications, and Construction Management Group) has been a principal designer, office engineer, field engineer, and construction/liaison engineer.  During his career with Reclamation, he has developed a broad range of expertise as principal designer for New Waddell Dam – Stage II; New Waddell Dam – Right Abutment Ridge Grouting Phases 1 and 2; Como Dam Modification; New Ganado Dam; and Santa Cruz Riverbank Stabilization.

He has most recently applied his knowledge, organizational skills, and leadership in support of construction of the Animas-La Plata Project including Ridges Basin Dam and the Truckee Canal Breach emergency rehabilitation.  He is an expert in conventional construction methods and the application of geomembrane materials for environmental projects involving hazardous materials. He demonstrated this expertise in his project management of Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Gilt Edge Mine and Summitville Mine.

He is active in the development of industry standards for large-dam construction through his involvement in the American Society of Civil Engineers, United States Society on Dams. He has also provided international technical assistance and training for the Water Resources Agency, Taiwan; and Jordan Valley Authority, Jordan.

Carlton Smith

Carlton Smith (Estimating, Specifications, and Construction Management Group) has been the facility manager for Parker Dam, resident engineer for the construction of Headgate Rock powerplant and transmission facility, and a construction liaison for Reclamation.

Smith possesses a broad range of expertise in construction and the power industry and is an expert in construction methods and scheduling.  Because of his analytical skills, he provided technical advice on many of Reclamation’s more complex construction activities including Folsom Dam – Phases 1 and 2; Savage Rapids Pumping Plant; Stony Gorge Dam Modification; Scofield Dam Modification; Weber Dam; Snake Creek Dam; Lauro Dam; Coleman Barrier Weir and Ladder Modifications; Headgate Rock Radial Gate Rehabilitation; Glen Canyon Dam Temperature Control Device; the Integrated Federal Alternatives Study for Folsom Dam; All-American Reservoirs; Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation; Arthur V. Watkins Dam Rehabilitation; and Drop 2 Storage Reservoir.

He is an expert at analyzing constructability issues and developing practical solutions to be applied in the field.

Richard (Dick) LaFond

Dick LaFond (Plant Structures Group) has distinguished himself within Reclamation in the field of powerplant and pumping plant design.  He is one of Reclamation’s leading authorities in the functional layout, analysis and design for these structures and related features.

He provided leadership to successfully complete the design and provide critical construction support for the very large and complex Temperature Control Structure at Shasta Dam. The structure is the first of its type that Reclamation has designed. The design effort involved state-of-the art technology and construction methods for installation of a large structural steel system in a deep-underwater environment and with extreme-load conditions.

His foresight and engineering skills provided the foundation and systematic approach for future designs, which he and his team subsequently applied to the design of two such structures at Glen Canyon Dam.  LaFond is the design-team leader on several large appraisal and feasibility designs, including the Yakima River Basin Storage Study.