Inside the Castle

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.

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.

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 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.

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, 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.