Pacesetter June 2007
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June 2007 Vol. 2, No. 9 In this issue: Pacesetter It’s all about the right people, in the right place, at the right Southwestern Division Regional News Service 3 time - Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Dorko Serving the men and 4 Corps of Engineers unites pen pals women of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Project Delivery Team works to link Fort Bliss, airfi eld with Southwestern Division 5 new bridge Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Dorko 6 Vacations take on new meaning for West Commander, 7 Expeditionary mind set, expeditionary work force, the new Southwestern Division wave Rhonda James 8 Worth Remembering: Post-war projects create boom in Chief, Public Affairs Ozarks Southwestern Division 9 Corps names Sims Bayou fl ood reduction its project of the month Melanie Ellis 12 Projects and events point to a bright future for Galveston and Editor the Corps - Col. David Weston Fort Worth District 16 When fi re is good Associate Editors 19 Team Tulsa, great contributors - Col. Miroslav Kurka Mary Beth Hudson Tulsa District 23 Desire to achieve leads to district excellence - Col. Christopher W. Martin Tammy Reed Little Rock District 26 30 years later Little Rock remembers James Marilyn Uhrich Ham Creek Park at Whitney Lake reopens with the help of Galveston District 27 locals The PACESETTER is an 31 “Your safety, our concern” unoffi cial publication published under AR 360-1 for members of the Southwestern Division 32 Pacesetter Points and its retirees. Contents and editorial views expressed are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the On the cover: Original graphic illustration by Andre` June 2007 Vol. 2, No. 9 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mayeaux, Visual Information Specialist, Fort Worth District. Department of the Army or the This month’s submissions for the Pacesetter highlighted so U.S. Government. Articles or many different activities it was diffi cult to select one area photographic submissions are welcome. For more information to feature on the cover. As mentioned in Brig. Gen. Dorko’s about the PACESETTER, or to column, the Southwestern Division demonstrates daily that make a submission, call your is has the right people, in the right place, at the right time. local Public Affairs Offi ce. 2 Pacesetter It’s all about the right people, in the right place, at the right time Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Dorko Commander, Southwestern Division Success is all about people. Our people As I mentioned, we’ll experience some During our fi rst meeting with our new at every rank and level make the Corps and transitions in our regional team this month Chief, Lt. Gen. Van Antwerp, he engaged the the Southwestern Division better each day. and next. Corps’ senior leaders early on to talk through No matter how complex the challenges, our You’ve probably heard me say that change the Corps’ priorities and tenets. As a result, world-class work force sets the conditions is the only constant. And, following his we all know where the Corps is headed and for success day-in and day-out. successful stint as Little Rock District’s each of us must do our part to make our We are indeed fortunate to have an commander, Col. Wally Walters will priorities and tenets a reality. abundance of the right people, those who relinquish command to Col. Ed Jackson, Our Priorities include: Support for the have served our organization well and who June 28. Col. Jackson comes to the division Global War on Terrorism and expeditionary are now entering retirement, or those who following his recent completion of the missions; Enhance quality of support are taking on new assignments. For, just Army War College; Col. Walters’ next to Soldiers, Civilians, Families, and the as the Corps bid farewell to Lt. Gen. Carl assignment will be Deputy Director, Strategic Public; Complete transformation of the Strock and welcomed our new Commander Communication Directorate, Joint Staff, the Theater Engineer Commands; Effectively and Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Robert L. Pentagon. prepare for and respond to disasters; enable Van Antwerp, last month, our Southwestern The next day, June 29, we will join in a Gulf Coast recovery; and, deliver Military, Division will do the same Civil Works, and Research and this month during Change This is a challenging, Development programs and of Command ceremonies projects. in two of our districts. and exciting time to be a Our tenets: Communicate There will be more on transparently; focus on your these transitions and member of the U.S. Army mission; team with industry. others a little later in this You will be hearing and seeing column. Corps of Engineers! more on these priorities and Also, in late May we tenets … and the Chief has stated welcomed Maj. Gen. that “delivering on them is our Ronald L. Johnson, the Vision!” Corps’ Deputy Commanding General, ceremony at Tulsa District where Col. Miro This is a challenging, and exciting time and his headquarters Command Strategic Kurka will complete his dedicated service to be a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Review team for our annual azimuth check. and Col. Tony Funkhouser will take the Engineers! CSRs are no longer inspections but rather leadership reins. Col. Funkhouser also just And, while it’s never easy to say goodbye on-site reviews and dialogue. As I mentioned fi nished the Army War College; Col. Kurka’s to those departing our organization, I am during my in-brief to the CSR team, I think next assignment will be as Commander, confi dent that the Corps and our Pacesetter that much of the benefi t achieved from CSRs Afghanistan Engineer District. division will continue to have the right is through the preparatory work prior to the I know you will join me in welcoming both people, in the right place, at the right time. visit, allowing for open discussions with the of our newest Pacesetters and in extending Essayons! Army Strong! team while they are on-site. appreciation to Col. Walters and Col. Kurka We spent two productive days reviewing for the exceptional leadership they have our strategic management processes to provided our division. execute Campaign Plan goals, objectives Another transition, in July, Col. John and enablers for the Regional Business Minahan, Southwestern Division deputy Center and USACE 2012, Civil Works, and commander since August 2006, will retire World-class Work Force. after 26 years of distinguished service to While we did receive some take-aways, our Army and our nation. As you know, he during the CSR out-brief Maj. Gen. Johnson served as Fort Worth District commander stated that, “SWD is a national leader in for three years before making the move to regional Water Resources studies; leads the division headquarters. His contributions are way in collaborative watershed planning; many and will be long remembered within and has many deliberate initiatives to grow, the division and beyond. shape and sustain the work force.” June 2007 3 From the desk of Andrea: Corps of Engineers unites pen pals went to college at Kansas State University did I know (in 1987), my ‘pen-pal’ would Dave Treadway and Allison studied at Arkansas Tech. become my very dear friend and nearly Nashville District Plans to attend each others’ weddings and 20 years later we’d be sitting and having graduations didn’t work out. dinner in Washington, D.C.!” Eleven-year-old Allison was playing at Then their big break fi nally came. Allison brought along her Mom and new- the home of her grandmother’s best friend “I was appointed to the USACE Water born daughter Brooke to meet her long- in Hector, Ark., in 1987 when a balloon Safety Products Development Team,” time friend. landed in the backyard. Attached to the revealed Allison. “Andrea was working “It was great,” exclaimed Andrea. “She is balloon was the name Andrea Jill Ball in Washington and I was to help design a already one of my best friends and fi nally with an address in Rock, Kan. Andrea had booth display and then help staff it at the getting to meet face-to-face was icing on launched the balloon, along the cake.” with 10 fi fth-grade classmates “When you meet someone for under the direction of her the fi rst time,” said Allison, “it teacher, Mrs. Burdette, hoping might be awkward but Andrea fi nders would contact the and I weren’t strangers. We had senders. so much in common. We had Allison sent a letter to been friends since we were small Andrea, which initiated a children. It was like we had lifelong diary to which the always been together. It was a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers super feeling! recently added another The water safety team brought chapter. us together in 2005 and again The pair, only a year this year for our annual meeting different in age, shared in April.” everything; pictures, school, Allison told Andrea, “It was so families, friends, boyfriends, good to fi nally hug your neck!” college, marriage, and the “It’s interesting really how trials of growing up. Photos courtesy of Nashville District some of the most special people With birthdays only a month in your lives come into your apart, the two developed a Allison Smedley (left) and Andrea Ball (right) unite in Washington, D.C., April 19 during a break from the USACE Water Safety Products Development Team realm in the craziest ways,” unique relationship. “We were meeting. Inset photos: Allison (left) and Andrea (right) from 1987, the year they concluded Andrea, who is each other’s diary,” asserted began corresponding. currently the Executive Director Allison, now a ranger at the of the Convention and Visitors Corps’ Russellville, Ark, 2005 USACE Engineer Day Picnic!” Bureau in Martinsburg, W.Va.