Wade Anderson completed his last day as Chief Engineer and Dam Safety Officer on the California Mega Projects Office, Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, May 28, 2024. Anderson sat down with the Corpstruction Podcast to discuss his near 35-year career, which began Dec. 26, 1989. He talked to Corpstruction about his assignments, the people who impacted him as an engineer and leader, and the changes he witnessed in USACE. Anderson is a graduate of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. His major dam safety projects include the Prado Dam Safety Modification, Whittier Narrows DSM, Mosul Dam Rehabilitation, Pine Creek DSM, Canton DSM and Addicks & Barker DSM. Anderson served as the first Chief of the Dam Safety for the Dam Safety Production Center, SWD and oversaw the organization’s growth from 12 to more than 40 employees, and its transition from a branch in the Tulsa District to a Center in the Southwestern Division. Although Anderson officially worked for Southwestern Division when he retired, he was geographically located at the Tulsa District, and was fully integrated into the Tulsa District community.

When the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers engages for disaster response missions, they do so under a tasking from the Federal Emergency Management Agency outlined by the National Response Framework. Michael Cappannari, director, External Affairs for FEMA Region 7 in Kansas City, spoke with Corpstruction about the communication effort between FEMA, federal, state and tribal agencies during disaster responses. Region 7 covers Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. Tulsa District, works with both FEMA Region 7, and FEMA Region 6, which covers Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas to coordinate emergency response activities.

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.

Park Ranger Audrey White took time during the Severe Weather Expo in Tulsa, April 15, to talk to Corpstruction about water safety, and recreation. White is assigned to the Lake Texoma Project Office. She talks about how her perspectives on life jacket wear and water safety evolved after becoming a park ranger, and about the work the staff at Lake Texoma are doing to promote recreation. Lake Texoma is a Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project constructed for flood control. The dam was completed in 1944. In addition to flood control, the structure and reservoir have hydropower, recreation, water supply missions. Lake Texoma receives more than 6 million visitors annually.

Taft Price is a forecaster in the Hydraulics and Hydrology section of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to joining USACE he spent 25 years in television as a meteorologist for local news stations in Oklahoma. Price's interest in weather and severe weather began when the roof on his family's home was blown off by a tornado. He joined us for the Corpstruction during the Severe Weather Expo at Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa to talk about how it all began and how he enjoys his new career at the Corps of Engineers.

Dan Carney and Tim Paulus of USACE Headquarters visited with Corpstruction to talk about the upcoming Fire Protection, Mechanical, Electrical and Control Systems Community of Practice Meeting in Tulsa in May.

We joined Brad Clark, the lead engineer of the project delivery team for the Pre-Engineering and Design phase of the Tulsa West Tulsa Levee rehabilitation project in Little Rock, Arkansas. Clark is the Geotechnical Branch Chief of the Dam Safety Production Center and oversees geotechnical engineers working on various projects in the Southwestern Division.

Johnny Bray is the powerhouse manager at Eufaula Dam. He oversees the maintenance of the structure and hydropower facilities to ensure the powerhouse can reliably produce its 90 Megawatts of Electricity when needed. He recently received the De Fleury Medal, the highest honor a USACE civilian can receive, in honor of 40 years of service to the nation. Bray began his career at the Webbers Falls Powerhouse in December 1982 and served at Denison Dam on Lake Texoma and eventually returned to the Lake Eufaula powerhouse only a few miles from where he grew up. At the end of calendar year Bray will leave the powerhouse for the last time as a USACE employee. We spoke with him about his career and upcoming retirement.

Brannen Parrish interviews Michael Ware about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Regulatory Authority under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Ware is a supervisory regulatory specialist at the Tulsa District. He is a graduate of Langston University and began his career with the Tulsa District as a Park Ranger in the 1990s. In 1995 he became a regulatory specialist based upon his biology background. He talks about the Regulatory Program's role in minimizing human impacts to natural habitats and ecosystems as well as its other Congressionally protected mandated authorities and responsibilities.

After graduating from Memphis University (formerly Memphis State University), Lee Conley embarked on a 10 year career of active duty service with the U.S. Army. He then went on to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at various locations while advancing to positions of progressively greater responsibility within the Southwestern Division. He started out with the Fort Worth District and worked at the Southwestern Division in Dallas, Texas, then the Little Rock District and eventually arrived at the Tulsa District where he served as the Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Management. We spoke to Lee Conley about his 35 year career, what he helped the District accomplish, and his future plans.

Eugene Goff is the Operations Project Manager for the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Kansas Area. The area includes eight reservoirs that provide vital flood risk mitigation, recreation and water supply for the Kansas communities. Eugene talked with Corpstruction about the many initiatives and activities taking place in Kansas and how he works with state and federal officials in the area to ensure the Corps effectively meets its mission requirements and takes advantage of opportunities to improve services.