spring, as USACE Chicago District Commander Colonel Frederic Drummond reads remarks of appreciation, GLMRIS Executive Steering Committee meeting, Chicago, Sept. 5, 2012. (U.S. Army Photo by Felicia Kirksey)

John D. "Jack" Drolet, retired deputy commander of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, will be taking over GLMRIS Program Manager duties. Drolet will manage activities with officials across multiple Federal agencies, state and local governments and multiple non-governmental organizations devoted to preventing the migration of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

ion project is authorized by Section 340 0f the Water Resources Development Act. The project will extend potable water service to more than 500 people in the Big Sandy, Hampton Roads and Roderfield areas of McDowell County who previously have had to rely on individual wells or bottled water.
COL McGugan signed the agreement with Gordon Lambert, President of the McDowell County Commission and was witnessed by Congressman Nick J. Rahall II.

(Pictured from left to right: Gordon Lambert, Congressman Rahall, COL McGugan)

onstruction project on the lower Ohio River.

"I asked my own civilian deputy to step into this newly created position to add his management skills to Olmsted’s hardworking project delivery team during this period of cost increases, funding challenges and reassessment of dam construction methods, " explained Col. Luke Leonard, Louisville District commander and district engineer. "This position will get him on the ground on-site more often than he was able to do overseeing regional programs and hundreds of projects across the nation."

Dale has been the Louisville District deputy district engineer and chief of the planning, programs and project management division since 2008. The District employs approximately 1,300 people executing civil works and military construction missions with a workforce that includes engineers, architects, planners, economists, biologists, lock operators and archeologists.

Dale graduated from the University of Kentucky, College of Engineering in 1985 with a bachelor’s in civil engineering and since then has worked for the Louisville District in a variety of construction and project management positions. Prior to becoming the District’s civilian deputy he was the area engineer at Fort Knox, responsible for managing $100 million in military and civil works construction projects in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. As the deputy district engineer Dale had complete oversight for executing the design, construction and operation of the District’s national mission, valued at more than $1.5 billion.

Dale is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and a project management professional as prescribed by the Project Management Institute. He is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and has achieved the highest level of certification by the Corps of Engineers Planning, Programs and Project Management Community of Practice.

For information about the Olmsted lock replacement project, go to www.lrl.usace.army.mil and in the left column click on Projects of Interest and then Olmsted Locks and Dam Construction.

Photo: David Dale (2nd from left) explains the Olmsted locks and dam construction project's production management system to the new commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick (far right), in the operations control center on-site.

umbly remembered James W. “Will” Coker, a fallen teammate during a brief ceremony at the USACE Qalaa compound in Kabul, Afghanistan. Coker died from a tragic and sudden death one year ago in a ceremony. The Transatlantic District- North lost Coker who was a valuable asset and a wonderful human being, Coker was a man whose purpose was not only evident in the way he presented himself but also in the gift of reaching out to others to make a difference in their lives. He was a man of great faith whose desire to give encompassed his life. Will’s travels took him across the oceans working with missionary ministries, local church groups as well as relief missions. He was a construction representative and site manager – he knew his work was making a difference, not only for the USACE mission but for the people of Afghanistan. All day Wednesday, Cokers photo rested at the base of the compound flagpole where many just stopped by to pay tribute to his memory and honor his courage, commitment, dedication and selfless service to our great nation and the people of Afghanistan.

ol. Frederic A. Drummond, Jr. commended all of the federal, state, local and private partners involved in completing the project, adding that “this project is an excellent example of innovative technologies that restore, maintain and protect our natural areas. And it provides a unique opportunity for the public to view first-hand how these environmental improvements are constructed and maintained.”

More than 120,000 native plants and shrubs were used to stabilize shoreline soils—some with roots more than six feet deep. Stones and boulders, along with specialized plastic mesh and webbing materials, also help stabilize the shoreline’s edge and protect newly-installed aquatic plantings. Additional information about the project is available at www.lrc.usace.army.mil.

for Hurricane Isaac to make landfall, Aug. 28, 2012. A Mobile based HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane and two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters are also pre-staged at the air station.Coast Guard units all along the Gulf Coast pre-staged assets and personnel to better assist anyone or thing in distress after Hurricane Isaac makes landfall.U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Brahm. Public Domain

standing civilian service in making reasonable, balanced and timely permit decisions, the national award is the highest regulatory recognition a Corps employee can receive.

Some of the larger projects Gibson has managed are the environmental review for the 3,500 acre southern expansion of Folsom, Calif., and the 2,688 acre Cordova Hills and 1,265 acre Sun Creek master-planned communities near Rancho Cordova, Calif.

more than 6,000 Soldiers and Airmen on duty to support our citizens, local and state authorities by conducting Hurricane Isaac operations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tarell J. Bilbo, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/RELEASED) Digital

nce Species Electric Dispersal Barriers, Romeoville, Ill., Aug. 28, 2012. Bostick was escorted by Chicago District Commander Col. Frederic A. Drummond Jr. (at right, right), as he visited major district project sites Aug. 27-29. The barriers prevent the establishment of the invasive Asian carp in the Great Lakes by creating an electric field in the water through steel electrodes that generate a DC pulse and are secured to the bottom of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Also pictured, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters Chief of Strategic Initiatives Col. Robert A. Sinkler (at left, right). (U.S. Army Photo by Sarah Gross) - Colonel Frederic Drummond

er farther inland over Louisiana tonight and Thursday, moving over southern Arkansas by early Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph, with higher gusts. Isaac will steadily weaken during the next 48 hours, and should become a tropical depression by Thursday Night. Tropical Storm Warnings continue along the coast from Cameron, Louisiana, eastward to the Alabama/Florida state line.
Even though the storm is inland, tropical storm-force winds will continue to affect the warning area. The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising water.
The heavy rain is a major threat with Isaac. Total amounts of 7 to 14 inches, with possible isolated amounts of 25 inches, are expected over much of Louisiana, south and central Mississippi, southwest Alabama, and central and southern Arkansas through Friday, producing significant lowland flooding.
Isolated tornadoes remain a threat along the central Gulf coast region and parts of the lower Mississippi River valley tonight and Thursday.
For local impacts, go to the NOAA NWS website at www.weather.gov. For the latest on the storm, visit the NOAA NHC website at www.hurricanes.gov

hics,” have encouraged Corps employees to consider the environment in everything they do since the principles were adopted 10 years ago. They have served the Corps of Engineers well, setting the direction the Corps would take to achieve greater synergy between sustainability and the execution of its projects and programs.

The “reinvigorated” principles are more concise, have a clearer format and include an increased emphasis on the proactive nature of each principle.

The reinvigorated principles are:
• Foster Sustainability as a way of life throughout the organization.
• Proactively consider environmental consequences of all Corps activities and act accordingly.
• Create mutually supporting economic and environmentally sustainable solutions.
• Continue to meet our corporate responsibility and accountability under the law for activities undertaken by the Corps, which may impact human and natural environments.
• Consider the environment in employing a risk management and systems approach throughout life cycles of projects and programs.
• Leverage scientific, economic and social knowledge to understand the environmental context and effects of Corps actions in a collaborative manner.
• Employ an open, transparent process that respects views of individuals and groups interested in Corps activities.

More information about the reinvigorated Environmental Operating Principles can be found at: www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/EnvironmentalOperatingPrinciples

In the photo are, from left, Dr. James E. Kundell, Chair of the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board, and Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick at the public release of the Army Corps of Engineers reinvigorated Environmental Operating Principles. (U.S. Army Photo by Lynne Whelan)