Corpstruction - Col. Tim Hudson The One Year Interview

Dr. Christine Altendorf is the Director of Military Programs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An Oklahoman who earned undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral engineering degrees from Oklahoma State University, Altenforf is a recipient of the OSU engineering program’s prestigious Lohman Medal. Altendorf visited the Tulsa District, USACE resident offices on Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Nov. 27 to tour ongoing and recently completed projects. Whether it’s providing housing for military recruiters, remediating Formerly Used Defense Sites, or interagency engineering projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other agencies, the USACE Military Programs mission is robust and active in its support of federal and international activities around the world. During her visit, Altendorf sat down with the Corpstruction Podcast to talk about Military Programs, engaging the USACE workforce and attracting talent to the Corps of Engineers.

Joey Cabay is the metalworker leaderman at the Ensley Engineer Yard of the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He spoke to the Corpstruction Podcast about his team performs and why dredging and infrastructure maintenance efforts help keep the navigation industry afloat. In 2019, more than 500 million tons of freight, worth $134.1 billion annually flowed through the marine highways of the United States, saving between $7 billion and $9 billion on transportation costs.

Geotechnical Engineers and civil engineers throughout the world celebrate “Terzaghi Day” each year, Oct. 2. Jarrod Breuer, a geotechnical engineer and subject matter expert at the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, joined Corpstruction to talk about the field and Terzaghi’s impact on civil engineering. Born October 2, 1883 in Prague, Terzaghi is considered the “Father of Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering.” His work in geology, soil mechanics and engineering led to the creation of the field. Many consider his greatest contributions to be the codification and experimentation to flesh out concepts.

Colonel Tim Hudson, Tulsa District Commander, interviewed Tavaras Jones, a project manager at the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Tavaras is approaching his first full year at the Tulsa District, and he's overseeing project delivery teams that are working on repairing the stilling basin at Webbers Falls Lock & Dam 16, and improving efficiency for the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District's irrigation system. The system is part of the Bureau of Reclamation's W C Austin Project which provides water for cotton crops. The project helps Oklahoma maintain its status as the nation's sixth leading producer of cotton.

Col. Tim Hudson is the commander and district engineer of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He joined the Corpstruction Podcast to talk about his observations and vision for the Tulsa District. Hudson is from Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds masters degrees from George Mason University and the U.S. Army War College. His past assignments includes service as a mathematics instructor at West Point, a platoon leader, company commander, battalion and brigade operations officer, Professor of Military Science at North Carolina State University for the Wolfpack Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, and later as a battalion commander of the 20th Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. Prior to his assignment at the Tulsa District he was the Deputy J4 for Engineering and Logistics at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Hudson has deployed to various locations in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Hudson took command of the Tulsa District July 8, 2022.

Park Ranger Randi Clifton joined Corpstruction to talk about staying safe on the water and the work of a park ranger in the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, we sat down with Cassi Free to talk about her son Andy, who fell out of the family boat and drowned after a day of wakeboarding and boating on Lake Eufaula on June 9, 2020. When her two other sons were sent to the hospital that same day, the family discovered they were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide while out on the water. Tests revealed that Andy, who was nine years old, had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide. Cassi was kind enough to sit down and share her experience and talk about the family’s efforts to raise awareness of carbon monoxide while boating. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is a byproduct of burning fuel. If a flame or combustion is present, carbon monoxide is being produced. Carbon monoxide displaces oxygen in the blood depriving the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. It can kill within minutes. Initial carbon monoxide toxicity symptoms often mirror fatigue typical of being out in the sun, and since it’s lighter than air, it can remain in an area for long periods, especially in highly trafficked areas. Be aware of the risks of exposure. Take frequent breaks away from the lake, and if you observe lethargy or confusion in others, seek medical attention.

Abby Jones joined the Corpstruction Podcast to talk about safety as June is National Safety Month.

The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a unique U.S. Army Corps of Engineers organization. Whereas USACE Districts and Divisions have geographical areas of operations for mission execution, the Huntsville Center has functional and highly specialized mission sets that transcend geographic boundaries. For this reason, the Center works within the boundaries of other USACE districts. They truly are Ingénieurs sans frontières. We sat down with Bill Craven, the Deputy Director of the Installation Support and Program Management Directorate to learn about the work the Huntsville Center is doing within the Tulsa District’s AOR, and better understand this unique USACE organization with a diverse, yet specialized mission set.

Stephanie Woods is a registered interior designer at the U.S. Army Engineering & Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama - also known as the Huntsville Center. Woods is from Florence, Alabama and is a graduate of the Auburn University Interior Design program. Woods is one of approximately 60 interior designers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. About half of them are assigned to the Huntsville Center. Woods spoke to Corpstruction about how the interior designers at the Huntsville Center support missions in the Tulsa District, Southwestern Division, the Army and throughout the world.