Pacesetter August 2007
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In this issue: Pacesetter Southwestern Division Regional News Service 3 ... well, it’s fi nally time to leave ... - Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Dorko Serving the men and 4-8 Flood Coverage women of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chief of Engineers outlines priorities Southwestern Division 9 - Col. Christopher W. Martin Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Dorko 10 Worth Remembering: Galveston devastated by storm in 1900 Commander, Southwestern Division 11 Port of Galveston Project Cooperation Agreement Rhonda James 12 Team Tulsa, raising the bar - Col. Anthony C. Funkhouser Chief, Public Affairs Southwestern Division 15 Fort Bliss Expansion Program gets civilian and Army media attention Melanie Ellis Editor 17 Little Rock making a difference - Col. Donald E. Jackson Fort Worth District 20 Table Rock Lake staff helps Soldier heal at home Associate Editors 21 Training is essential to remaining Relevant, Ready, Mary Beth Hudson Responsive and Reliable - Col. David C. Weston Tulsa District 22 Galveston District named Public Agency of the Year Tammy Reed Fort Worth District team memebers, both with the Fort Bliss Little Rock District 23 Expansion Program, garner annual Corps awards Marilyn Uhrich 24 Sellers is grand marshal for city celebration Galveston District The PACESETTER is an 28-30 Engineer Day Celebration coverage unoffi cial publication published under AR 360-1 for members of the Southwestern Division 33 Pacesetter Points and its retirees. Contents and editorial views expressed are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, On the cover: Original graphic illustration by Andre` Department of the Army or the Mayeaux, Visual Information Specialist, Fort Worth District. U.S. Government. Articles or This month’s Pacesetter captures the Southwestern Division photographic submissions are welcome. For more information response to the 2007 fl ood series. Every district in SWD was about the PACESETTER, or to impacted, some more than others. make a submission, call your local Public Affairs Offi ce. 2 Pacesetter ... well, it’s fi nally time to leave ... Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Dorko Commander, Southwestern Division Over the last three years I have had the distinct honor and Facing the harsh reality, that there’s no way the Chief would privilege of serving with you, the best team and teammates in let me stay in SWD for the rest of my natural life, there’s only the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Add to that, one of the most one job in USACE that, in my mind, could serve to follow what challenging mission sets faced by any organization in our Army, I’ve experienced here. And that’s the opportunity to join the Gulf and a group of stakeholders, customers, and contractor partners Region Division team on the front lines of the Corps’ fi ght in the without equal, and the end result, from my perspective, is SWD global war on terror. It’s our number one priority. It’s a USACE magic. team of teams that includes our Sister Services, other government Commanders are often asked about what keeps them awake at agencies, contract partners and most importantly, Iraqi citizens. night. The standard reply usually focuses on tough, thorny issues, And so I’m honored and humbled with this opportunity. And I’ll or risks to the accomplishment of critical missions. In my case, it’s look at this not so much as leaving SWD but an opportunity to take been about keeping up with the incredibly high standards and fast what you’ve taught me and contribute on a new team that includes pace you all have set as individuals and organizations. The collegial now and will continue to include members of the Southwestern and visionary way you have built our regional business team, the Division. And you can consider this paragraph a recruiting pitch. A relentless drive to deliver better, lot of work remains ahead of us in faster, and less expensively today “May God bless you all, and Iraq -- professionally rewarding with an eye toward being even work with global signifi cance, better tomorrow, your integrity all that you do for this great where the GRD team is looking in serving the nation’s needs, all for help and reinforcement from crystallize for me just how special nation. You’ve given me a new the talent-laden USACE family. SWD is. I look forward to the opportunity The challenges have been perspective on Essayons. In SWD that GRD might provide for some relentless -- prosecuting the global of us to work together again. war on terror; hurricane recovery; there’s really no “try” involved. Your new Commander, COL(P) leading MILCON transformation; Ken Cox, and I go back a long securing our national borders; You just “get ‘er done.” Once a way. In Ken, you’re blessed with helping to operate and develop the best our Army has to offer. America’s strategic (Texas Gulf) Pacesetter, always a Pacesetter.” His recent experience in the seacoast and critical inland Offi ce of the Chief of Engineers, waterways like the MKARNS and Pentagon, as well as two tours of others; effectively and effi ciently duty in Iraq, combined with other operating our assigned lakes, parks, locks, dams, and powerplants; wide-ranging career assignments, strategic vision, high energy, serving the needs of our Army and Air Force installations; restoring and a real concern for people to make him the right guy at the and preserving the environment and preserving water as a resource right time for SWD. With Ken joining this all-star cast, I’ll be for generations to come. And the list goes on. All overwhelmingly able to continue to tell the world that, after GRD, SWD is truly making the case that every job accomplished every day, by the center of the universe. every individual in this division has been and will continue to May God bless you all, and all that you do for this great nation. be absolutely critical -- there are no unimportant jobs in SWD. You’ve given me a new perspective on Essayons. In SWD there’s You’ve all rolled up your sleeves and quietly and professionally really no “try” involved. You just “get ‘er done.” Once a Pacesetter, gone about doing the nation’s business. For all this, I can never always a Pacesetter. thank you enough. It’s truly all about people -- in SWD we’ve (Editor’s note: In a Change of Command ceremony, Aug. 20, had the right people, in the right seat, at the right time, on the bus Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Dorko, who has served as SWD Commander (I know you’ve all read Good to Great by now based on Lt. Gen. since June 21, 2004, will relinquish command to Van Antwerp’s note). Col.(P) Kendall P. Cox.) August 2007 3 Flood Coverage Southwestern Division fl ood fi ghters Anjna O’ Connor Southwestern Division The fl ood of 2007 impacted every district in the Southwestern Division. The division offi ce coordinated with the Fort Worth and Tulsa Districts, who were impacted the most, to fi ght the fl ood and address the Corps’ primary mission of fl ood damage reduction, prevention and management. Lake levels in both districts were low as the summer recreation season started. The heavy rains in June were welcomed and quickly refi lled the water supply at many of the lakes, but the rain didn’t stop. It continued into July and SWD found itself switching gears from drought conditions to fl ood control in a matter of days. The fl ood fi ghters, a common phrase for Photo courtsey of Southwestern Division Dallas levees hold fl oodwater as it makes its way down the Trinity River. employees that contribute to the overall effort in managing and communicating safety as the situation unfolded. Constant resulted in the creation of the North Water during the fl ood, hit the ground running coordination was required with organizers Center, which includes Tulsa and Little with the lakes fi lling up and doing so of major fi shing tournaments and other Rock Districts, and the South Water Center, quickly. events. Dozens of media calls poured in. which includes Fort Worth and Galveston “Fort Worth District had 25 of its 27 The Reservoir Control Centers switched Districts. This new community of practice reservoirs in fl ood control stage, seven into overdrive and began staffi ng offi ces 24 allowed for increased access to technical of those 25 reservoirs experienced their hours a day, seven days a week as internal capabilities with no organizational barriers, second highest pool level, and three were and external communication became more and the ability to extract effi ciencies, share at their fourth highest pool level,” said Paul critical. Communication was important for knowledge and workload leveling in all of Rodman, the district’s Chief, Reservoir effective management during the height the districts. Control Section. of the fl ooding. The division and district “We knew we had problems making Tulsa District was facing the same offi ces were not only coordinating releases fl ood control releases during the 1990 conditions. “Tulsa District had 40 of its with, and getting information from the fl ood at Lake Ray Roberts,” said Bob 42 active fl ood control lakes all in fl ood other district offi ces, but also from the Gergens, Hydraulic Engineer. “We wanted operation at one time,” said Russell National Weather Service, the Texas State to make sure we didn’t cause the kind of Holeman, Chief of the H&H Branch in Emergency Management Offi ce, and many damages to the discharge channel that Tulsa.