Engineer Memoirs
There has never been any problem with the district engineer performing as contracting agent.
I think in the whole history of the Corps, there's only been one district engineer that failed
or mismanaged. The Corps is recognized and renowned worldwide for its manner of handling
contracts.
I can tell you, since I've retired, I've heard more complaints about the Corps' contracting
attitude than I ever heard before, and I think it's because the people who are managing
contracts aren't communicating with the contractor like the district engineers can and would.
I hope I am wrong, but it forebodes major problems for the Chief of Engineers when the
district engineers are no longer allowed to be contracting officers.
So the assistant secretary must become involved and if necessary get support of the Secretary
of the Army. I consider it a crucial issue in both military and civil programs but more so in
the latter.
Q ..
Let me ask you one follow-up question. In recent years, the Corps has also had much more
to do with the Assistant Secretary for Installations, Logistics, and Environment. In the
I think maybe it was just Installation and Logistics. During your term, did you have a lot of
contact with the other assistant secretaries?
A ..
Yes, we did, but we were talking about the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
I haven't gotten into the military programs yet. M aybe we should now I don't want to give
the impression civil was more important to me as Chief tha n military. It defini tely was not.
I spent a great portion of my term as deputy, and later as Chief, in consolidating the
management of the Army military real property. During that period, because the
[Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Logistics] had given up housing, there
wasn't quite as much business with that office.
on the environment until the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Now, we did deal with
Works established a position that managed environmental problems for the Army. We
on equipment and other post issues, but not as much as
continued to work with
today, where
is more involved in post operations.
Of the two, even though there was no lack of interest on my part for the military program,
the As sistant Secretary for Civil Works was the more domin ant of those two insofar as the
Corps business was concerned. That situation could have easily changed; however, we need
to recognize there is the entire Army staff directly below
which provided the
appropriate avenue for the Chief of Engineers in issues involving the
Q ..
Is now a go d time to talk about
o
Alexander's concerns?
A ..
Yes, of course, we got off track again on your earlier question, but first I should mention my
first
Martin Hoffman. I was amazed at the man's energy and his ability to deal
with problems.
Hoffman and General Rogers, Chief of Staff of the Army, made a good team. Secretary
Hoffman asked the Chief of Engineers to arrange a trip so he could see what civil works was
all about. He went to Lock and Dam 26, which was a very hot potato politically in those days.
When he came back, he was a very helpful secretary because he'd seen the project. We've
worked together since I've retired. He remains a very dynamic and personable man. I don't
know how he was to work for, but he was very good to work with.
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