Inside the Castle

This is part one of a three-part series focused on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's (USACE) Critical Incident Stress Management Program (CISM).

The mission of the CISM program is to provide education, support, and assistance to USACE employees for incidental or cumulative critical incident stress experienced in the performance of their jobs and/or in the event of major civil emergencies, natural disasters or military contingencies.

24/7 CISM helpline 314-925-5250
Email: cism-vm@usace.army.mil
FOR USACE STAFF ONLY: Join the CISM Team: Visit the CISM SharePoint portal under "how can I help?"

In this episode, we continue our "People First" series with guest host Marie Kopka. As a reminder, this series celebrates unity, empowerment and the Corps greatest asset, our people!

Listen in as 'Inside the Castle' speaks with Michelle Larson and Kimberley Oldham, co-founders of the Native American Employee Network (NAEN), talk about the Native American employee resource group and how the Corps celebrates National American Indian Heritage Month.

{This episode is in memory of Kimberley... read more

In this episode, we continue our "People First" series with guest host Marie Kopka. As a reminder, this series celebrates unity, empowerment and the Corps greatest asset, our people! Listen in as 'Inside the Castle' speaks with Michelle Larson and Kimberley Oldham, co-founders of the Native American Employee Network (NAEN), talk about the Native American employee resource group and how the Corps celebrates National American Indian Heritage Month. {This episode is in memory of Kimberley Oldham who passed away in early December 2024.} Check out the resources mentioned in this episode: Federally Recognized Tribes https://www.bia.gov/service/tribal-leaders-directory HQUSACE Tribal Nations Program https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Tribal-Nations/ Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nagpra/index.htm American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) https://aises.org/ Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) https://saige.org/ Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) https://www.sacnas.org/ If you are a Corps employee and want more information on the Native American Employee Network, please reach out to Michelle.   show less

In this episode, we sit down with USACE Engineering & Construction (E&C) leadership to discuss some of the recent strategic initiatives and future of E&C in the Corps. Listen in as we talk about what it means to deliver quality consistently, develop and enable the workforce, and leverage collaboration and innovation across E&C as we all work together to safely deliver quality projects on time and within budget.

This episode is the fifth in our “People First” series with guest host Marie Kopka. During this series, Inside the Castle will be celebrating unity, empowerment and the Corps great asset, our people!

Listen in as Inside the Castle learns about the Public Involvement Specialist role within USACE with Dr. Akilah Martin (Chicago District) and Alex Smith (Mobile District).

This is the final episode of our three-part series commemorating the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program.

In this episode, Mr. Jonah Bea-Taylor from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office of History joins us to talk about how the Corps' civil works mission evolved after the Civil War. Listen in to hear how the Corps' civil works program expanded to multiple missions across the Nation.

To learn more about the Corps history, visit https://www.usace.army.mil/About/History/

In this episode we take a closer look at the latest innovation revolutionizing the way the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) does business. Listen in as Jennifer Moyer, Chief of the USACE Regulatory Program, introduces the new Regulatory Request System.

The Regulatory Request System is a web-based tool that helps a person find general permitting information, submit an individual and general permit application, submit pre-application meeting requests, and jurisdictional determination requests using online forms.

You can find this tool at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs

Have your tried RSS? Let us know what you think at rrs@usace.army.mil

This is the second episode of our three-part series commemorating the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program.

In this episode, Mr. John Lonnquest, PhD., Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office of History joins us to talk about how the General Survey Act contributed to the establishment of the Corps of Topographical Engineers in 1838. He also talks about the Corps' first civil works projects and why they were so important to the Corps and the Nation.

To learn more about the Corps history, visit https://www.usace.army.mil/About/History/

This episode marks the beginning of our special three-part series commemorating the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program.

We kick the series off with Matthew Pearcy, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office of History, for an in-depth look at the legislative milestones that shaped the Corps into the world-class organization it is today.

To learn more about the Corps history, visit https://www.usace.army.mil/About/History/

Today’s episode is the fourth in our “People First” series with guest host Marie Kopka. During this series, Inside the Castle will be celebrating unity, empowerment and the Corps great asset, our people!

In this episode, Inside the Castle learns about the People First Committee in the Regulatory Division of the St. Paul District with Meghan McKinney and Rachel Gralnek, the People First Committee leaders.

Today’s episode is the third in our “People First” series with guest host Marie Kopka. During this series, Inside the Castle will be celebrating unity, empowerment and the Corps great asset, our people!

In this episode, Inside the Castle learns about the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month theme: “Hidden Histories” with Felix Yeung, the organizer and developer for the 2024 AANHPI Heritage Month program.

Tune in to hear what YOU can do to help the Corps tell the people side of our organizational history.

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll4/id/323/rec/2

In this candid conversation, Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, the 55th Chief of Engineers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sits down with Inside the Castle to discuss the immense responsibility that comes with leading a world-class organization.

Lieutenant General Spellmon offers a glimpse into this leadership philosophy, revealing how he stays motivated and resilient in the face of immense challenges – from natural disasters to the ever-present need to balance work and... read more

In this candid conversation, Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, the 55th Chief of Engineers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sits down with Inside the Castle to discuss the immense responsibility that comes with leading a world-class organization. Lieutenant General Spellmon offers a glimpse into this leadership philosophy, revealing how he stays motivated and resilient in the face of immense challenges – from natural disasters to the ever-present need to balance work and personal life. Reflecting on this time as the Chief of Engineers, he gives us an update on his key priorities and how the Corps has been working hard to safely deliver the mission on time and within budget. You will also hear about his most memorable day as Chief of Engineers, his plans after his tenure, and the invaluable advice he has for the Corps staff at all levels of the organization. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the inner workings of the Corps, leadership in challenging times, and leaving a lasting legacy.   show less

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.

Ever wonder who keeps the gears turning on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects? On this episode of Inside the Castle, we take a deep dive into the world of the Corps' Business Line Managers.

Join us as we chat with a few of the business line managers and uncover the diverse roles they play, the challenges they tackle, and the decisions they make.

Today’s episode is the second in our “People First” series with guest host Marie Kopka. During this series, Inside the Castle will be celebrating unity, empowerment and the Corps great asset, our people!

In this episode, Inside the Castle learns about the Institute for Water Resources Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council with Dr. Richard Nugent III, the DEIA Council Leader.

A couple of resources mentioned in this podcast:
Iliff: https://www.iliff.edu/dei/
Project Implicit: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/aboutus.html

Step inside castle walls for a captivating discussion on the basics of artificial intelligence with Evan Smits, from Microsoft.

In this episode, we delve into the basics of artificial intelligence, unraveling its mysteries and exploring its vast potential for assisting the Corps with accomplishing its mission more efficiently and effectively than ever before.

Tune in to gain invaluable insight into the transformative power of artificial intelligence.

Today’s episode launches our “People First” series with guest host Marie Kopka.

During this series, Inside the Castle will be celebrating unity, empowerment and the Corps great asset, our people!

In this first episode of the series, Inside the Castle learns about the Corps’ LGBTQ Community Group with Lee Trueheart, one of the founding members of the group.

Ever wondered how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gets the go-ahead and green light to fund all those vital infrastructure projects across the nation? On this episode of Inside the Castle, we dive into the sometimes-murky world of authorizations and appropriations.

We'll break down the key differences between the two terms and explain what it takes for a USACE project to go from the drawing board to reality.

So, whether you are a civil engineer, an advocate for your local waterway, or simply curious about how it all works, tune in!

In this episode, we are wrapping up our Construction Innovation Management series with Jason Gobin, Darrick Godfrey and Alexandra Henderson Connors.

This final part of the series showcases the research and development aspects of Construction Management Innovation. Listen in as the Corps team talks about how they are using research and USACE lab resources to meet the everyday needs of the construction management workforce.

Listen in as Inside the Castle continues their 5-part series on Construction Management Innovation.

In this episode, Inside the Castle hosts are joined by USACE Construction Managers Jacky Henderson, John Travis and Alexandra Henderson Connors to talk about the Construction Management Administration Application and how this new tool will help USACE construction personnel more efficiently manage policy, documentation, training, and share lessons learned across the enterprise.

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... read more

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   show less

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!

In this episode, we celebrate the 2020-2021 Process Improvement Team Excellence Award Winner for their efforts to improve how the agency works through the DoD Performance Management and Appraisal Program commonly known by DoD workforce as DPMAP.

Sabine Faltenbacher, New Orleans District Quality Management Representative, joins us to talk about the innovative improvements the way the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executes the DPMAP and the lessons they learned along the way.

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... read more

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.   show less

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... read more

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!   show less

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, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi sits down with Ms. Patsy Fletcher, recently retired from the USACE Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre, and Ms. Franchesca Gilbert, N-LGL Subject Matter Expert, to discuss the National-Local Government Liaison (N-LGL) Program and Cadre. The N-LGL Cadre is comprised of specially trained individuals from across USACE who deploy during disaster response efforts when requested by FEMA. N-LGLs work under FEMA leadership and integrate into a... read more

In this episode, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi sits down with Ms. Patsy Fletcher, recently retired from the USACE Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre, and Ms. Franchesca Gilbert, N-LGL Subject Matter Expert, to discuss the National-Local Government Liaison (N-LGL) Program and Cadre. The N-LGL Cadre is comprised of specially trained individuals from across USACE who deploy during disaster response efforts when requested by FEMA. N-LGLs work under FEMA leadership and integrate into a FEMA Branch or Division located at a city or county EOC to serve as the initial USACE point person at this level to help explain USACE’s missions under FEMA. They do not, however, commit USACE or the government to any work for the state or locals under FEMA or USACE’s authorities.   show less

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... read more

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.   show less

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... read more

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.   show less

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.

The National Hurricane Program is a federal interagency partnership between USACE, FEMA, and NOAA, which provides technical services and studies throughout the hurricane threatened coastal states. The technical assistance is focused on hurricane evacuation and response planning, readiness, and operational decision making.

Listen in as we talk with Marco Ciarla and Thomas Laczo about this critical program and the benefits it provides to the nation.

To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/hurricanes

The HURREVAC program just hit 25,000 registered users!
To learn more about the HURREVAC application at: http://www.hurrevac.com/.

In this episode Inside the Castle talks about sustainable and innovative military construction with Kathleen O’Neill, Dr. Christopher Thompson, and Dr. Robert Moser.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is supporting the Department of Defense and White House Administration’s efforts to reduce harmful impacts on the environment by incorporating innovation and sustainable materials in our building processes.

Additionally, USACE partners with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and... read more

In this episode Inside the Castle talks about sustainable and innovative military construction with Kathleen O’Neill, Dr. Christopher Thompson, and Dr. Robert Moser. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is supporting the Department of Defense and White House Administration’s efforts to reduce harmful impacts on the environment by incorporating innovation and sustainable materials in our building processes. Additionally, USACE partners with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and private industry to execute trial construction projects on military installations that meet the NDAA’s sustainability objectives. USACE has a goal to lower the lifetime embodied carbon emission* of infrastructure by at least 30% from established baselines and to incorporate sustainable materials. Listen in and learn how USACE is developing sustainable infrastructure solutions for the nation's bases, camps, posts and stations.   show less

Listen in as Inside the Castle talks with Eva Velez, Jacksonville District, about the Everglades Program. Learn how USACE is restoring, preserving and protecting the South Florida ecosystem as well as providing for the other water related needs of region.

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks with Dr. Gerald Galloway about the Principles, Requirements and Guidelines (PR&G) and shares experiences from his career in water resources.

In this episode Inside the Castle spotlights the Denver South Platte Public Private Partnership project (P3). The South Platte River & Tributaries (Adams & Denver Counties), Colorado, Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Risk Management project is the fourth P3 project executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Public private partnerships (P3s) are a tool that can accelerate delivery by providing significant upfront funding, leveraging appropriations while optimizing local participation,... read more

In this episode Inside the Castle spotlights the Denver South Platte Public Private Partnership project (P3). The South Platte River & Tributaries (Adams & Denver Counties), Colorado, Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Risk Management project is the fourth P3 project executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Public private partnerships (P3s) are a tool that can accelerate delivery by providing significant upfront funding, leveraging appropriations while optimizing local participation, and promoting risk sharing in project delivery. Utilizing P3s can streamline delivery, share risk, and provide significant life-cycle cost savings. Listen in to learn how the Corps is working closely with the City and County of Denver to implement a locally led delivery approach for the entire project. This alternative delivery approach is expected to result in a savings of roughly $121-194 million and is anticipated to be delivered two-five years ahead of a traditionally delivered project.   show less

Since 2014, Congress and the Administration have passed a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) every two years. WRDA authorizes the Secretary of the Army, through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)), to conduct studies, construct projects, and research various activities and development that can lead to improvements of rivers and harbors of the United States.

Listen in on this episode to learn about WRDA with Mr. Gib Owen, Office of the Assistant Secretary of... read more

Since 2014, Congress and the Administration have passed a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) every two years. WRDA authorizes the Secretary of the Army, through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)), to conduct studies, construct projects, and research various activities and development that can lead to improvements of rivers and harbors of the United States. Listen in on this episode to learn about WRDA with Mr. Gib Owen, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; Mr. David Wethington, Chief, Future Directions Branch at USACE Headquarters; and Ms. Amy Frantz, Senior Policy Advisor at USACE Headquarters. Additional information about the Water Resources Development Act can be found on our website at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Water-Resources-Development-Act/.   show less

In this episode we discuss the Section 202 Program with Brandon Moore, Huntington District, and Michael Moore, Louisville District.

Section 202 was incorporated into the Energy and Water Development Act of 1981 (P.L. 96-367). Section 202 authorized the Corps to design and construct necessary and advisable flood control measures to prevent future flood damages at several named communities, in the Tug and Levisa Forks and Upper Cumberland River Basins.

Listen in and learn about the Section 202 Program and specific projects currently being worked on under Section 202, like the Johnson County, KY Flood Risk Managment Project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the Federal government’s largest water resources development and management agency. The Planning Assistance to States allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide states, local governments, other non-Federal entities, and eligible Native American Indian tribes assistance in the preparation of comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conversation of water and related land resources.

Listen in as Sharon Sartor, the National Program Manager for Planning Assistance to States, talks about the program and how the Corps can use this program to assistance local communities.

Planning plays a vital role in supporting the Corps of Engineers Civil Works water resources development mission. Listen in as Inside the Castle hosts a roundtable discussion with Mr. Eric Bush, Chief of Planning and Policy Division at USACE Headquarters, and his planning staff Joe Redican, Susan Layton, Jeremy LaDart and Karla Roberts to learn more about planning, the future of planning and how these senior leaders are ensuring USACE delivers the mission on time and within budget.

Mr. Michael Connor recently marked his one-year anniversary as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. In this episode, Inside the Castle sits down to talk with Mr. Connor about this milestone and much more.

Listen in to hear Mr. Connor's reflections from this past year and his plans for 2023.

In this episode, Inside the Castle talk with Nicole Comisky, Program Manager for Environmental Infrastructure at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters, to learn more about the Corps environmental infrastructure authority.

Listen in to hear how this authority for water related infrastructure assists local communities.

Recovering from the Historic 2019 Missouri River Flood: Three Years Later

In this episode, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi sits down with Matt Krajewski, USACE Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre member and former Omaha District Emergency Management Chief, to discuss the historic 2019 flooding along the Missouri River and tributaries, and how the Corps has worked over the past three years to help the local communities recover by repairing and rehabilitating hundreds of miles of... read more

Recovering from the Historic 2019 Missouri River Flood: Three Years Later In this episode, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi sits down with Matt Krajewski, USACE Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre member and former Omaha District Emergency Management Chief, to discuss the historic 2019 flooding along the Missouri River and tributaries, and how the Corps has worked over the past three years to help the local communities recover by repairing and rehabilitating hundreds of miles of damaged levee systems under Public Law 84-99. Public Law 84-99, Emergency Response to Natural Disasters, is the Corps of Engineers’ basic authority to provide for emergency activities in support of State and Local governments prior to, during, and after a flood event. The Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) appropriation provides funding for PL 84-99 authorized activities. Under PL 84-99, the Corps can provide both emergency technical and direct assistance in response to flood and coastal storms, such as hurricanes and nor’easters.   show less

In this episode, Inside the Castle sits down with Vincent Navarre, USACE Headquarters, to learn how the Corps budgets for civil works projects.

Listen in and learn more about the Corps' Civil Works Budget.

In this episode we sit down with Willem Helms, the Public Law 84-99 Program Manager at Corps Headquarters, to learn more about the Public Law 84-99 and the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies Appropriation.

Public Law 84-99 is the Corps of Engineers’ basic authority to provide technical and direct assistance for emergencies like floods, coastal storm, and hurricanes. Funding for the Public Law 84-99 comes from the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) appropriation.

Listen in and learn more about how the Corps of Engineers assists state and local governments prior to, during and after emergencies.

After 37 years of serving our Nation, Mr. Alvin Lee, Director of Civil Works, has decided to retire. Mr. Lee started his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Fairbanks Resident Office in Fairbanks, Alaska followed by a stint at one of the research labs within the Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC). From there he served in various capacities at every level of the organization.

In this episode we say farewell to the Director of Civil Works, Mr. Alvin Lee.... read more

After 37 years of serving our Nation, Mr. Alvin Lee, Director of Civil Works, has decided to retire. Mr. Lee started his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Fairbanks Resident Office in Fairbanks, Alaska followed by a stint at one of the research labs within the Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC). From there he served in various capacities at every level of the organization. In this episode we say farewell to the Director of Civil Works, Mr. Alvin Lee. Listen to hear Mr. Lee's lessons learned, accomplishments and future direction. Show notes: 0:25 Episode Introduction 1:33 Alvin Lee Career Background 3:31 Reflections from the past three years 10:15 USACE's current Budget 13:30 Revolutionize Performance Monitoring 18:34 Lessons Learned 26:03 Mr. Lee's proudest moment of his career 34:05 Final Thoughts   show less

In this episode, Inside the Castle celebrates producing over 100 episodes with the Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon.

Listen in as we reflect on our favorite episodes, hear about key actions the Corps is taking to become a "Winning" organization, and learn how the Corps is enhancing partnerships with the Chief's Command Partnering Philosophy and Construction Project Partnering Playbook.

Fifteen years ago the 35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota collapsed just south of Lock and Dam 1 which is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District.

Listen in to hear about the collapse and how USACE staff assisted with the response and recovery mission.

After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico had significant infrastructure damage and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working with locals to reduce flooding and ensure public health and safety for the citizens of Puerto Rico.

Funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and emergency supplemental acts have provided a unique opportunity to construct new projects and promote resilience in Puerto Rico.

Listen in to learn more about the Corps mission in Puerto Rico.

For more information, visit the Jacksonville District website at: https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/

In this episode, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi sits down with Chris Klein, USACE Temporary Housing and Critical Public Facilities Program Manager and Tony Hill, Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre Member, to learn more about the Temporary Housing mission and the Critical Public Facility mission, and how the Corps has worked over the past several years to deliver these vital missions to disaster survivors.

The temporary housing mission, one of the many missions USACE can perform... read more

In this episode, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi sits down with Chris Klein, USACE Temporary Housing and Critical Public Facilities Program Manager and Tony Hill, Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre Member, to learn more about the Temporary Housing mission and the Critical Public Facility mission, and how the Corps has worked over the past several years to deliver these vital missions to disaster survivors. The temporary housing mission, one of the many missions USACE can perform in support of FEMA under ESF #3 and the National Response Framework, involves overseeing the placement of temporary housing units at individual home sites, existing mobile home parks, or newly designed and constructed mobile home parks when an event has rendered existing homes uninhabitable. The Critical Public Facilities mission involves providing and/or constructing temporary critical public facilities such as government office space, police stations, fire stations, medical clinics, and school classrooms, when those permanent facilities have been rendered unusable after a disaster.   show less

In this episode we close out our three part regulatory series talking with Tunis McElwain, Deputy Chief of Regulatory at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters.

Listen in and learn what Regulatory is doing to improve their processes and enhance capabilities to ensure USACE delivers the mission on time and within budget.

Need more information about the USACE Regulatory Program? Visit us on the web at https://www.usace.army.mil/missions/civil-works/regulatory-program-and-permits/

In this episode, Inside the Castle takes a closer look at project performance monitoring and learns about the innovative ways the Corps is working to ensure quality projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Listen as Rich Feibelman and Michele Rebmann talk about how they are working with teammates from across the Corps to revolutionize performance monitoring.

In this episode, Inside the Castle showcases the newly published USACE Construction Partnering Playbook with Sue Dyer, Founder of the International Partnering Institute; Sheryl Gatz, Military Programs Strategic Planner at USACE Headquarters; and Darrick Godfrey, Senior Construction Engineer at USACE Headquarters.
Published in April of 2022, the Partnering Playbook was developed in coordination with our industry partners and key practitioners in the field with first-hand construction... read more

In this episode, Inside the Castle showcases the newly published USACE Construction Partnering Playbook with Sue Dyer, Founder of the International Partnering Institute; Sheryl Gatz, Military Programs Strategic Planner at USACE Headquarters; and Darrick Godfrey, Senior Construction Engineer at USACE Headquarters. Published in April of 2022, the Partnering Playbook was developed in coordination with our industry partners and key practitioners in the field with first-hand construction project partnering knowledge and experience. It provides guidance, best practices, and scalable tools and processes that should be used to implement partnering on all USACE construction projects throughout the delivery life cycle. A copy of the Playbook can be found at: https://www.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Partnering/. You can also find more information about partnering on the International Partnering Institute website at: https://partneringinstitute.org/.   show less

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks about the USACE Small Business Program. The USACE Small Business Program assists firms doing business with the government to ensure small and disadvantaged businesses have the maximum opportunity to participate on contracts.

Listen in to learn more and then visit USACE Small Business at https://www.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Small-Business/ for even more resources to help small and disadvantaged businesses.

In this episode, Inside the Castle showcases the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Supplemental Program which is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for USACE to deliver water resource infrastructure projects that will positively benefit our communities across the Nation.

Listen in to learn how the USACE is delivering the mission for the Nation by executing quality projects on time and within in budget, safely.

In this episode, Inside the Castle spotlights the Rock Island District. The Rock Island District provides vital civil works programs to the Midwest, the Mississippi River Valley and the Nation.

Listen in as Colonel Jesse T. Curry and Kim Thomas talk about their mission, key regional and national programs, and how they are ensuring they deliver quality projects on time and within budget, safely.
Visit https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil to learn more about the Rock Island District.

Learn about the Internal Career Acceleration Network (I-CAN), a new peer-to-peer knowledge sharing site where anyone in the Corps of Engineers can go to learn—and to teach! I-CAN was built using the milUniversity platform, which is available to all Department of Defense employees at no charge.
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The episode also closes the book on Aaron Schlein's temporary detail with the Institute for Water Resources through the New Horizons program, where he was part of the I-CAN development... read more

Learn about the Internal Career Acceleration Network (I-CAN), a new peer-to-peer knowledge sharing site where anyone in the Corps of Engineers can go to learn—and to teach! I-CAN was built using the milUniversity platform, which is available to all Department of Defense employees at no charge. — The episode also closes the book on Aaron Schlein's temporary detail with the Institute for Water Resources through the New Horizons program, where he was part of the I-CAN development team. — Link to previous New Horizons episode > https://www.dvidshub.net/audio/68133/career-development-road-new-horizons — Link to the Benefit/Cost Updates for Budget Development Course > https://www.milsuite.mil/university/ican-usace/courses/benefit-cost-updates/   show less

Development assignments or details provide Federal employees with some of the best training experiences. Developmental assignments or details are outside the employee's regular department or agency and provide the employee with an opportunity to experience a different type of work or better understand various missions and functions of a specific organization.

In this episode, Inside the Castle learn more about Congressional Details with Mackie McIntosh and Lauren Leuck. Listen in as tLeuckjhey share what it was like working with members of Congress on their yearlong detail.

In this episode, we chat with Mr. Josh Marx, USACE Temporary Roofing Program Manager and Mrs. Patsy Fletcher, Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre Member, to learn more about the temporary roofing mission, also known as Operation Blue Roof, and how the Corps is working to improve this disaster recovery mission for the upcoming Hurricane Season.

The temporary roofing mission, one of the many missions USACE can perform in support of FEMA under ESF #3 and the National... read more

In this episode, we chat with Mr. Josh Marx, USACE Temporary Roofing Program Manager and Mrs. Patsy Fletcher, Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) Permanent Cadre Member, to learn more about the temporary roofing mission, also known as Operation Blue Roof, and how the Corps is working to improve this disaster recovery mission for the upcoming Hurricane Season. The temporary roofing mission, one of the many missions USACE can perform in support of FEMA under ESF #3 and the National Response Framework, has become a very popular mission for hurricane survivors, elected officials, state officials, and FEMA immediately following a major hurricane. The program allows for displaced homeowners to return to their homes to shelter in place and helps reduce additional water damages to personal property. The program has evolved significantly due to internal audits identifying areas for improvement, internal after-action initiatives, and application of evolving technologies.   show less

In this episode, Inside the Castle continues the diversity and inclusion discussion with members of the USACE Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Community Group.

Listen in as Roselyn Wang, San Francisco District; Pei-Lin Yu, Walla Walla District; and Eileen Taka, Los Angeles District, talk about how COVID impacted their family and AANHPI communities globally.

In this episode we talk with Mark Hainsey, the Chief Knowledge Officer at USACE Headquarters, and Brian Temple, the Knowledge Management Officer at the North Atlantic Division, to learn how USACE uses a disciplined approach to share, use and manage information across the organization in order to effectively execute programs and projects on time and within budget.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers strives to deliver quality projects on time and within budget.

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks with Jeff Mansfield, the National Quality Program Manager, about the management principles and systems used to ensure Corps has the knowledge and information needed to execute their mission in a timely fashion, at the lowest cost and highest quality.

In this episode, we discussion Section 234 of the 1996 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to learn how USACE is using its technical and managerial expertise to address domestic and international water resource challenges, infrastructure development and environmental protection.

Listen in as Jennifer Rainey, National Program Manager from the Interagency and International Services Branch, talks about Section 234 and how USACE works with other Federal agencies, non-governmental and international organization, and foreign governments to address problems of national significance to the United States.

This episode of the career development series was recorded live at the 2022 Planning Workshop for the US Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division. Tune in to for priceless insights from early career employees in the Corps of Engineers in a discussion moderated by Aaron Schlein.
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Your panelists are Chris Chabot, Jess Gisler, Nicky Schleeter, and Sasha Voight.

The USACE Regulatory Program is committed to protecting the Nation's aquatic resources and navigation capacity, while allowing reasonable development through fair and balanced decisions.

In this episode, we talk with Andrew Beaudet, Regulatory Program Manager at USACE Headquarters, to learn how USACE evaluates permit applications for activities that occur in the Nation's waters, including wetlands.

To learn more about the USACE Regulatory Mission visit: https://www.usace.army.mil/missions/civil-works/regulatory-program-and-permits/

In this episode, Inside the Castle learns more about the newest USACE District with Colonel Kenneth Reed, Commander of the Transatlantic Expeditionary District.

Founded on May 15, 2021, the Transatlantic Expeditionary District provides theater-wide engineering solutions and expertise in support of U. S. Coalition, and Host Nation efforts to enable the building of partner capacity within CENTCOM area of responsibility and to support overall CENTCOM mission objectives.

Learn more on our website: https://www.tad.usace.army.mil/TransatlanticExpeditionaryDistrict

In this episode, Inside the Castle learns more about the newest USACE District with Colonel Kenneth Reed, Commander of the Transatlantic Expeditionary District.

Founded on May 15, 2021, the Transatlantic Expeditionary District provides theater-wide engineering solutions and expertise in support of U. S. Coalition, and Host Nation efforts to enable the building of partner capacity within CENTCOM area of responsibility and to support overall CENTCOM mission objectives.

To learn more visit our website: https://www.tad.usace.army.mil/TransatlanticExpeditionaryDistrict

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is continuously analyzing business procedures to identify areas to encourage process improvement, build more efficient workflows, and increase the overall mission execution.

USACE strives to safely deliver the mission on time and within budget. To help USACE achieve this goal, they have a cadre of business process improvement specialist across the organization who work to not only improve the way the organization does business but also incorporate... read more

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is continuously analyzing business procedures to identify areas to encourage process improvement, build more efficient workflows, and increase the overall mission execution. USACE strives to safely deliver the mission on time and within budget. To help USACE achieve this goal, they have a cadre of business process improvement specialist across the organization who work to not only improve the way the organization does business but also incorporate the voice of the customer into various business procedures. In this episode, we chat with Mr. Kevin Fuqua, the Business Process Improvement Program Manager at USACE Headquarters and Ms. Maria Kopka, Planner and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt at the St. Paul District, to learn more about how the Corps is working to improve business procedures to ensure we deliver high-quality projects in a safe and timely manner.   show less

At the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. Diverse and inclusive teams have a positive impact on our programs and projects and help us better deliver the mission.

The newly formed Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Community Group is one example of how we are constantly working to create a workplace where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

In this episode, we have a candid discussion with Wen-Huei Chang, Marie Kopka, and Judy McCrea, of the newly formed Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Community Group about their experiences and how others can join their growing group.

We often turn to leaders and seasoned experts to guide the future of our organizations.

Now more than ever, it is essential that we give equal attention to employees in early stages of their careers—to learn from their insights, understand their perceptions, and recognize how they contribute to the mission.

In today’s episode, we’ll meet one of those early career employees.

Lindsay Floyd is 2½ years into her career as a Planner in the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento... read more

We often turn to leaders and seasoned experts to guide the future of our organizations. Now more than ever, it is essential that we give equal attention to employees in early stages of their careers—to learn from their insights, understand their perceptions, and recognize how they contribute to the mission. In today’s episode, we’ll meet one of those early career employees. Lindsay Floyd is 2½ years into her career as a Planner in the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District. In this exclusive interview, Lindsay shares her thoughts on: - A recent once-in-a-lifetime professional opportunity - Her experience being recruited as a new graduate - The ups and downs of onboarding - Finding meaningful training when you’re just starting out - Potential for a long-term career with the Corps - What today's leaders can do attract the leaders of tomorrow Do you know an early-career USACE employee who would be a great guest on Inside the Castle? Let’s connect! Email aaron.p.schlein@usace.army.mil --- This episode contains an exciting new feature! Listen closely for the #ArmyJargonAlert. --- To provide your feedback, or to let us know what you want to hear about next on the Career Development Series, visit https://forms.office.com/r/eZBW1X8hZ7   show less

In this episode we learn about the USACE Command Partner Philosophy and the development a USACE Construction Partnering Playbook with Darrick Godfrey, Senior Construction Engineer at USACE Headquarters and Sheryl Gatz, Military Programs Strategic Planner at USACE Headquarters.

In this episode, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi sits down with Bo Ansley, Chief of Emergency Management at Mobile District and Matt Tate the National Disaster Program Manager at Mobile District to talk about how the Corps assists FEMA with their Debris mission.

Inside the Castle Interviews ASA CW Michael Connor.

In this episode we learn about the Corps’ Mapping, Modeling, and Consequences Production Center with Robert Stubbs, Production Center Director; Michelle Carey, Mapping and Documentation Branch Chief; and Kurt Buchanan, Consequences Tech Lead.

Feedback keeps us on our toes and makes us better professionals—and better humans. But where does good feedback come from? And what do we do when we get it?

This is part two of a career development mini-series about all things feedback.

An episode about feedback wouldn't be complete without asking you, our ITC listeners, to sound off with some feedback of your own.

Follow the link below to let us know what matters most to you!

https://forms.office.com/r/eZBW1X8hZ7

In this episode we start our three part Regulatory series with Ms. Sarah Wingert and Mr. Jacob Siegrist, Regulatory Program Managers at USACE Headquarters.

In this episode we learn about the USACE Real Estate mission. Listen as we talk with Ms. Paula Johnson-Muic, Chief of Real Estate at USACE Headquarters, Mr. Todd Czarnecki, Chief of Real Estate at Northwestern Division; and Ms. Ashley Klimaszewski, Chief of Real Estate at Louisville District.

In this episode we are showcasing the Middle East District with Colonel Phillip Secrist III, District Commander for the Middle East District, and Mr. Tom Waters, Director of Programs for the Middle East District.

Tune into this episode to learn about the Middle East District’s mission and how they help USACE Build Strong!

Feedback keeps us on our toes and makes us better professionals—and better humans. But where does good feedback come from? And what do we do when we get it?

This is part one of a career development mini-series about all things feedback.

An episode about feedback wouldn't be complete without asking you, our ITC listeners, to sound off with some feedback of your own.

Follow the link below to let us know what matters most to you!

https://forms.office.com/r/eZBW1X8hZ7

This episode references Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor. You can find out more about Kim's work at www.radicalcandor.com

Listen in as we learn more about a team that is revolutionizing Natural Resources Programs across the Corps. Jason Knight, a Natural Resource Specialist from the Tulsa District, is joined by Roseana Burick, the Natural Resources Manager at USACE Headquarters, to talk about the launch the innovation team and showcase the innovative tools they created that are changing the way USACE manages and promotes Natural Resources.

Join Inside the Castle as we discuss Environmental Justice with Maria Wagner, Senior Economic Policy Advisor at USACE Headquarters and Jessica Ludy, Risk Program Manager at the San Francisco District.

Listen in as we learn about the Inland Navigation Design Center with Mr. Andy Barnes, the Director of the Inland Navigation Design Center and Mr. Andy Harkness, the Deputy Director of the Inland Navigation Design Center.

In this episode Inside the Castle sits down with Mr. David Johnson, Houston Engineering, Inc, to learn what's like to be an A/E firm working with the Corps of Engineers.

In this episode, we continue our Career Development series with host Aaron Schlein. Listen in and learn how working actively and intentionally to sell your skills and ideas to others will help you and your organization achieve success!

In this episode we get to know Mr. Jaime Pinkham, the Principal Deputy for Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

Inside the Castle celebrates Native American Heritage Month with Dr. Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Principal Hydrologist at the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources.

Listen in as Inside the Castle discusses Collaborative Analytics with Joe Powell, Chairman at the University Research Institute; Bob Latas, Vice President at JE Dunn Construction; and Kelly Miller, Program Manager at the Kansas City District.

Listen in as LTG Scott Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Ms. Karen Pane, Director of Human Resources at USACE Headquarters, talks with Inside the Castle about the vaccine mandate for federal workers.

In this episode, the hosts of Inside the Castle reflect on their first season. Listen in to learn more about the hosts, what their favorite episodes are and what it was like to start a podcast.

Inside the Castle is proud to launch a new series focused on career development. Mr. Aaron Schlein, the founder of the career development series, sits down with subject matter experts from across the Corps to talk about professional networking. Listen in and learn valuable networking skills that will excel your career.

In this episode, Dr. Nadia Mohandessi, Program Manager for the Corps Emergency Management Continuous Improvement Program, talks with USACE Emergency Management personnel about the different ways the Corps can get involved with disaster response and recovery.

In this episode, Inside the Castle sits down with Susan Layton, USACE Headquarters Deputy Chief of the Planning Community of Practice; Amy Guise, Chief of Planning Division for the Baltimore District; Cynthia Tejeda, Watershed and Floodplain Program Manager for the South Pacific Division to talk about the USACE technical assistance programs.

In this episode, Inside the Castle sits down with Mr. Dovarius Peoples, the Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters. Listen in to learn how Mr. Peoples and his staff are using innovative strategies to drive digital modernization at all levels of the organization.

In this episode we sit down with Mr. Will Veatch, the acting lead for the USACE Climate Preparedness and Resilience Community of Practice, to learn more about Climate Resilience.

In this episode, Inside the Castle sits down with Dr. Todd Bridges, founder and national lead of the Engineering with Nature Program; Ms. Julie Beagle, Environmental Planning Section Chief for the San Francisco District; and Ms. Danielle Szimanski, Ecologist and Project Manager at Baltimore District. Listen in to learn how the Corps using innovative science and engineering solutions to produce sustainable delivery of projects.

Cyber resilience is critical to USACE’s ability to engineer solution to this Nation’s toughest challenges. Learn more about cyber security in this episode of Inside the Castle.

In this episode we sit down with Michael Deegan, the New Horizons Program Manager at the Institute for Water Resources (IWR), to learn more about the New Horizons Program.

In this episode we sit down with Peter Dodigon, the Asset Management Program Manager at USACE Headquarters, to learn more about the Asset Management Program.

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks Women's Equality with Jodi Creswell and Kari Hauck from the St. Paul District and Erica Thomas from the Memphis District.

In this episode, Inside the Castle showcases the Silver Jackets Program. The Silver Jackets are interagency teams located in states across the Nation who work together reduce flood risk and other natural disasters. Listen in to learn more about these unique teams.

In this episode, Inside the Castle continues our emergency supplemental discussion with Southwestern Division. Listen in as they share lessons learned from their Harvey Emergency Supplemental projects.

In this episode, various staff highlight the Corps' Emergency Management mission. Listen to learn how the Corps approaches emergency operations.

In this episode, Inside the Castle sits down with Mr. Jeremy Dorsey, the Human Capital Chief at USACE Headquarters, to talk about the USACE Workplace Transformation Strategy.

Inside the Castle talks about Natural Resource Management

Inside the Castle talks with Hunter Merritt, a Social Scientist at the Institute for Water Resources, and John Kucharski, a Research Scientist at the Engineering Research and Development Center’s Environmental Laboratory, about serious gaming that is enhancing collaborative efforts across the agency.

Inside the Castle continues their series on diversity, equity, and inclusion in this Pride Month episode.

Inside the Castle interviews Corps historians to discuss Corps history in celebration of the Corps birthday.

Inside the Castle discusses the importance of Dredge Safety.

Inside the Castle celebrates Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Dr. Siripong Malasri from the Gadomski School of Engineering at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.

Inside the Castle showcases the Corps Emergency Supplemental projects during an interview with Doug Sims, Program Manager for the Emergency Supplemental Program at USACE Headquarters; Scott Mensing, Senior Program Manager at Kansas City District; Chance Bitner, Lead Engineer for the Kansas City Levees Program; and Brandon Moore, Supplemental Program Manager at the Huntington District.

In the episode, we celebrate Portland District's 150th Anniversary with Mr. Kevin Brice, the former Deputy for Programs and Project Management at the Portland District.

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks rulemaking with Stacey Jansen from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

The Corps provides critical infrastructure to the Nation and in this episode Inside the Castle has a candid discussion with Mr. Eddie Belk, Programs Director at the Mississippi Valley Division, about why investing in critical infrastructure is important to the Nation.

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks with team members from the Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise about how they help the Corps build collaborative capabilities across the agency as well as deliver innovative collaborative processes, tools and techniques that builds a more collaborative culture.

Inside the Castle learns about the Corps' Emergency Management Specialists, the National Flood Fight Materiel Center and the Rock Island District's Flood Area Engineers. Listen in as we interview Mr. Cory Haberman, Emergency Management Specialist for the Rock Island District and Ms. Amanda Mueller, Emergency Management Specialist and Flood Area Engineer for the Rock Island District.

To learn more about the Corps Emergency Operations visit us at: https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/

Inside the castle continues their series on diversity, equity, and inclusion in this Holocaust Remembrance episode. Ms. Lili Chester shares her family's history and talks about the experiences her family encountered during the Holocaust.

To learn more about the Holocaust visit the following links:

Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas
https://www.minndakjcrc.org/

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
https://www.ushmm.org/

The Transfer of Memory Documentary
http://transferofmemory.org/the-collection.html

In today's episode, Inside the Castle talks with Mr. Tom Smith, Chief of Operations and Regulatory, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters, to learn about the Corps' Operations mission and how his staff is making revolutionary change across the Corps.

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks about the Corps' Climate research and development efforts with Dr. Joseph Corriveau, Director of the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory and Dr. Tom Douglas, a Senior Scientist at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering, Alaska Laboratory. The Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).

To learn more about the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory visit their website at: https://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/Locations/CRREL/

In this episode, Inside the Castle talks with a few of the environmental leaders at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters. Learn what these leaders do and how their jobs benefit the agency.

Inside the Castle interviews Corps staff to discuss the Tribal Partnership Program.

Inside the Castle talks with Mr. Al Wong, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Dive Team Coordinator and Mr. Bill Ford, Mississippi Valley Regional Dive Coordinator, to learn what it is like to be a member of the Corps Dive team.

In this episode, Inside the Castle continues to celebrate women in the workplace with a discussion focused on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women in the workforce, particularly mothers. Listen in as we talk with Ms. Cheree Peterson, Programs Director for the South Pacific Division; Ms. Marcia DeVille, Chief of the Real Estate Programs Branch at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters; and Ms. Maria Lantz, Social Scientist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources.

In this episode, Inside the Castle goes behind castle doors to have a Women's History Month conversation with Major General Diana Holland, Mississippi Valley Division Commander; Ms. Stacey Brown, Chief, Programs Integration Division, Corps Headquarters; and Ms. Tamara Cameron, Chief, Operations Division, St. Paul District. Listen in to hear how these women are making revolutionary changes within the Corps.

In this episode of the Inside the Castle, we talk with staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District who are celebrating 150 years of serving South Carolina. Listen and learn how Charleston District has been delivering world-class solutions for South Carolina and the Nation.

#CGSCorps150

In this episode, Inside the Castle has a candid conversation with a panel of guests to celebrate Black History Month.

In this episode, we are joined by Jorianne Jernberg, the acting director of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) management division for the Environmental Protection Agency.

The WIFIA program accelerates investment in our nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant
projects.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-08/documents/wifia-2-onepager-508-1-web-final2.pdf

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Civil Works Directorate has been revolutionizing the way they do business. In this episode, Inside the Castle talks with leaders from the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division about how they have been rewarding Agents for the Revolution.

Learn more about the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division by visiting them on the web at: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/

This episode highlights the USACE Public Private Partnership (P3) pilot project in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota. To learn more about the USACE P3 pilot program visit https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Infrastructure/Infra_P3_program/

Inside the Castle launches a new feature titled "A Day in the Life of...". This featured series highlights the various careers within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this episode Inside the Castle talks with Jeff Kelly, Lock and Dam Equipment Mechanic Supervisor at the Smithland Lock and Dam on the Ohio River.

Inside the Castle talks Public Private Partnerships (P3) with Jill Jamieson, CEO of Illuminati Infrastructure Advisors.

Learn more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Private Partnerships at
https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Infrastructure/Infra_P3_program/

Inside the Castle has a candid conversation with USACE staff on LGBTQIA+ to better understand the challenges that some of our teammates face daily.

Inside the Castle has a candid conversation with Ms. Robyn Colosimo, Director of Policy and Legislation for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. This episode discusses how policy is made within Corps and the Administration.

Inside the Castle continues their conversation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters leadership. In this episode get to know some of the Corps newly appointed Senior Executive Service (SES) Directors.

Inside the Castle has a candid conversation with newly assigned USACE Headquarters leadership. In this episode, Inside the Castle learns more about MG William “Butch” Graham, Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations; COL Michael Clancy, Executive Director, Civil Works; and Mr. Alvin Lee, Director of Civil Works.

Inside the Castle interviews the Chief of Engineers. Get to know the LTG Scott Spellmon and learn a little about his leadership philosophy and vision for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in this latest podcast episode.

Inside the Castle continues their social justice series with MG Holland (Mississippi Valley Division Commander), COL Jansen (St. Paul District Commander) and COL Miller (Memphis District Commander).

Inside the Castle talks to the USACE Headquarters Future Directions team to learn more about what they do and how the work they do assists USACE with successfully executing projects and building relationships with external partners.

Inside the Castle hosts a special Veterans Day episode. Thank you to all of you who have served and continue to serve.

To learn more about the veteran resources are discussed during this episode visit the following links: Fedshirevets.gov and veteranscurationprogram.org

In this episode, Inside the Castle's guest hosts continue their social justice conversation.

Inside the Castle talks with the Institute for Water Resources and the Engineer Research and Development Center about innovation and how the Corps can encourage a culture of innovation.

Inside the Castle has a candid conversation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanders about leadership, empowering others and social justice.

Inside the Castle talks about some of the social challenges the nation is facing and interviews a couple U.S. Corps of Engineers employees to get their perspectives.

Inside the Castle has a candid conversation with Corps Program Managers about the Continuing Authorities Program.

Inside the Castle discusses how to build trust with internal and external partners.

Inside the Castle chats with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Director of Civil Works, Mr. Alvin Lee.

Inside the Castle has candid conversation with Corps staff about work/life balance and how their life has changed during the recent pandemic

Inside the Castle has a candid conversation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff about trust and why it's important to have a trusting organization.

Inside the Castle's host Aaron Snyder has a fireside chat with author Simon Sinek during a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Strategic Workshop.