Engineer Memoirs _____________________________________________________________________
best in terms of processing time, but closer to the shorter time frames than the longer,
although we had two or three or four that hung out there, too, because they were complex and
involved a lot of different things.
Q:
Maybe before we move into military construction, another point that was made was that you
had an opportunity to make several personnel selections, that maybe every division engineer
doesn't necessarily get to do. One of them--you mentioned Listerman a little while ago--
was the deputy, I guess, and then became the Chief of Programming. Also Jimmy Bates came
in as Chief of Planning. Do you have any observations on that opportunity that you had and
how you approached it?
A:
It was an opportunity to really mold a team, and I think that's the way I approached it too.
When I arrived, we had a single SES [Senior Executive Service]--Dick Armstrong, a very
strong-willed, very capable, talented individual. He was certainly the dominant voice on the
staff, so much so that some staffers just fell into the background, so I often got just a single
voice. Dave Click was a stalwart executive assistant who always provided good counsel and
was most effective.
It was my feeling that, with our great operational responsibilities, with all those locks and
dams on the Ohio navigation system and those 76 flood control dams on the tributaries, and
with the large number of park visitors annually--I think we were second or third in the
Corps--that we had very large operational responsibilities and the Ohio River Division ought
to have another SES position. From that I was able to argue for, justify, and get approved that
the Chief of Operations Division would be an SES position. Then Jack Kiper moved up to be
the SES in that position, providing additional clout to operations.
Planning had been split off in previous years by General Heiberg, and we were doing that
throughout the Corps. When my Chief of Planning retired in the fourth or fifth month after I
arrived, there was an opportunity to go for another SES, which is quite a long and
deliberative process. There were quite a number of very qualified candidates, and from them
I selected Jimmy Bates, who had been in the division before in Nashville District.
Also, then, as mentioned, the Chief of Programs retired, and Lou Listerman as deputy had a
good handle on programs, so I selected him. The Chief of Real Estate when I was there, Dave
Gray, became the Chief of Real Estate for the Corps. I was very happy to nominate him and
support him to the Chief. I then had an opportunity to select a new Chief of Real Estate and
Dave Perkins as Chief of Procurement.
I also selected a new Chief of Public Affairs, Bob Hume, during that time frame. So, I did
have quite an opportunity to put people in and build the organization.
Q:
Armstrong and Bates are now in the headquarters, and the public affairs officer is still there.
A:
Right.
Q:
Joe Higgs is now at the Ohio River Division in the planning and engineering slot, I guess.
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