inside the castle

In this episode, we are continuing our Construction Innovation Management series with Niki Porter, Darrick Godfrey and Alexandra Henderson Connors. Part 3 of this 5 part series showcases the new Construction Management Platform (CMP). Listen in as the Corps team talks about why they are working to modernize the construction management tools and why it is critical to have a new construction management platform to help construction managers better manage their projects.

In this episode, we continue our series on Construction Management Innovation with Darrick Godfrey, Alexandra Henderson Connors, and Renee Mullinax. Listen in to learn more about the tools the Corps' Construction Managers currently use to track construction projects and what the Construction Management Innovation team is doing to improve the tools in the future.

In this episode we sit down with Darrick Godfrey and Alexandra Henderson Connors to learn more about Construction Management Innovation and the four lines of efforts that will be discussed in more detail in future episodes. Listen in to hear the current state of Construction Management within the Corps and what Darrick, Alexandra and the rest of the Construction Management Innovation team is doing to improve the way we do business. Any questions about the Construction Management Innovation can be sent to the team at CM_TMO@usace.army.mil If you are a Corps staff member, you can learn more about Construction Management Innovation by visiting the Construction Management Team site at https://usace.dps.mil/sites/TDL-CECW-EC-TestTeam1/SitePages/CMP.aspx

In this episode, we showcase another 2022 USACE Innovation Award Winner! Listen to learn how the Huntsville Engineering and Support Center deployed the Welcome2lt digital in-processing tool and dashboard to reduce the time an employee spends on-boarding by more than 60%.

In this episode, we sit down with Terry Williams, the Program Manager for the Fargo-Moorhead Metro Program, and Kevin Denn, the project manager for the Fargo-Moorhead Metro Program, to talk about the National Academy of Construction recognition, what it took to receive this recognition and what is currently going on with the Fargo-Moorhead Metro Program.

In this episode, we continue to highlight our Business Process Improvement Award winners with Ozzy Orwick, USACE Headquarters Human Resources Data Director. Mr. Orwick expanded on the success of the Mississippi Valley Division's improvements to the DoD Performance Management and Appraisal Program (DPMAP) dashboard. His efforts resulted in an enterprise-wide solution that is 100% automated and provides supervisors as well as senior leaders with a more expedited way to view status of required DPMAP tasks. Congratulations Ozzy! We appreciate your commitment to improving the way USACE does business!

Did you know Congress has a team of researchers for daily legislative support? In this episode, we are joined by Anna Normand and Nicole Carter who are Specialists in Natural Resources Policy at the Congressional Research Service. Tune in and learn the mission of the Congressional Research Service and how they serve Congress with the highest quality of research, analysis, and information. Whether you are a policy wonk, an infrastructure enthusiast, or simply curious about the inner workings of the U.S. government, this episode is for you!

Join us as we take a closer look at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Remote Lock Operations. In this episode, we are joined by Tiffany Burroughs and Michael Tarpey from USACE Headquarters who will provide us with a deeper understanding of remote lock operations and its transformative role in the navigation industry. For more information about the Remote Lock Operations visit: https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/Lock-Dam-Remote-Operation/

In this episode of Inside the Castle, we delve into a day in the life of a local government liaison. This vital aspect of disaster recovery operations often goes unnoticed; however, it is a critical link between local government, local citizens, and the federal recovery efforts. After a natural disaster or a significant event, local citizens find themselves facing a myriad of questions and uncertainties about the recovery process. They are often left wondering who to turn to for assistance and guidance. That is where the local governmental liaisons come into play. Join us for an enlightening conversation that highlights the unsung heroes who work diligently to ensure that local communities receive the support they need when it matters most.

In this episode we learn more about the USACE Lean Six Sigma Excellence Award Program winners with Kevin Fuqua, Deputy Business Process Improvement (BPI) Capability Manager at USACE Headquarters. The intent of the Lean Six Sigma Excellence Award Program (LEAP) is to recognize Army organizations and practitioners who demonstrate excellence in development, sustainment, and employment of Business Process Improvement (BPI) capabilities in support of the enterprise approach to institutional adoption.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Will Veatch and Brantley Thames about the suite of publicly available web tools that allow users to analyze historical and climate-projected data for climate preparedness and resilience planning. Listen in and learn how these tools support risk-informed decisions and help make the nation more resilient to climate-related changes through adaptation.

As the nation’s environmental engineer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages one of the largest federal environmental missions: restoring degraded ecosystems; constructing sustainable facilities; regulating waterways; managing natural resources; and, cleaning up contaminated sites from past military activities. Our environmental programs support the warfighter and military installations worldwide as well as USACE public recreation facilities throughout the country. In this episode, we sit down with Ms. Lara Beasley, USACE Environmental Division Chief; Chris Evans, DOD Environmental Programs Branch Chief; and Mr. Busse, Environmental Support Branch Chief, to talk about the Environmental mission and what the USACE workforce is doing to foster sustainability in all programs and projects. Listen in and learn more about this mission!

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers is an innovative, transformative organization providing engineering solutions to customers worldwide. Our 36,0000 civilian employees are delivering positive impacts for today and tomorrow. In this episode, we are exploring a day in the life of a USACE Archeologist with Nancy Brighton, Susan Malin-Boyce, and Mark Smith. Listen in and learn more about this exciting career field.

In this episode, we sit down with MAJ Jared Demello, Frank Cook and Matthew Karlinchak to talk about the Arlington National Cemetery Expansion Project which is a project under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Interagency and International Services Program. The Corps is one of many partners who work with the Arlington National Cemetery. The main role is to provide construction support for larger construction projects, like the cemetery expansion project. Listen in to learn more about this project, the Corps’ history with the cemetery and the exciting work Corps’ construction team is accomplishing!

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has established a goal to advance the practice of beneficial use of dredged material to 70% by the year 2030. Dredged material is a valued resource that is not to be wasted, but instead used for benefits to the ecosystem, economy, and to deliver the USACE mission more effectively and efficiently across the Navigation, Flood Risk Management and Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration projects. Listen in as we learn more about this program and the benefits it provides to the environment and the nation.

In this episode we talk with Aaron Snyder and Kevin McDonald about the Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program (CWIFP). CWIFP is a newly launched loan program that will provide low cost, long-term loans with flexible repayment options to creditworthy borrowers. Listen in and learn how this program enables local investment in infrastructure projects that address community water resource needs, promote economic prosperity, and improve environmental quality. For more information about CWIFP visit: https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Infrastructure/revolutionize/CWIFP/

In this episode we discuss the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) with Jerry Dorsey and Abigail Maher. FEVS is an annual government-wide survey that measures federal employees' perceptions of critical work-life areas that drive employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention across the workforce. Listen and learn why this survey is important and how it is helping the Corps improve the workplace now and into the future.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for more than 700 dams across the Unities States that provide multiple benefits such as flood risk management, navigation, water supply, hydropower, environmental stewardship, fish and wildlife conservation, and recreation. Through the Dam Safety Program, USACE provides oversight for its dams and works to ensure they remain safe, reliable, and able to provide their intended benefits. It’s National Dam Safety Awareness Day and in this episode of Inside the Castle, we talk with Travis Tutka, USACE Headquarters Dam and Levee Branch Chief and Aaron Snyder, Director of the Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program about the state of dam safety and the path forward for maintaining, upgrading, and repairing our Nations dams.

In this episode we talk with Lauren Loyless about her risk communication project she is executing through the New Horizons program. In a previous Inside the Castle episode, we interview the New Horizons program manager, Michael Deegan, Ph.D. Follow the link to listen to that episode https://www.dvidshub.net/audio/67457/inside-castle-new-horizons. Ms. Loyless created a pathway for action that puts theory into practice through what she calls the AMCC framework. The framework is grounded in four data variables - access, motivation, trust, and communication. These data variables are then put into actionable invention points based on literature, emergency management and behavioral science. These actionable invention points are approach, motivation, collaboration, and communication – hints the name AMCC. Listen in and learn more about the AMCC framework and how it is helping the Corps more effectively communicate risk.

In this episode Inside the Castle talks with Mr. Eddie Belk, the Director of Civil Works, about the Corps, his leadership philosophy and how the Corps is executing a historic workload.