Engineer Memoirs _____________________________________________________________________
Q:
No, I think what he meant was there's an awful lot happening, and you're going to miss it if
you don't deal with it. Yes.
A:
Well, there is a lot happening but, I guess, we're all put here and have a particular position to
handle only what we can handle. So, I'm very happy with Pat Kelly handling his directorate,
with my knowing enough to engage and that things are going in the direction that USACE
wants it to go. When we need to know, we know how to get involved, and we can do it and
work it. I don't have to walk around Civil Works office to office and find out how folks are
doing. That's his job.
Q:
Shortly after you came, you had a transition workshop over at Fort Belvoir. Was that your
idea?
A:
No, I was told by the staff I should have it.
Q:
Okay. Did you find it helpful?
A:
Yes, and I was surprised. I didn't think I would. I really kind of fought it for the first two or
three times. I said, "Why do I need a transition? I know most of these folks; most of them
know me. I mean, I'm not an unknown quantity, so why do I need to do it?"
Everybody said, "Yes, but there are a lot of questions out there. They want to know how you
want to operate."
So, I more or less went along. Just to go on to your next question, I really found it valuable,
and maybe not for what it started out to be, but for that too.
Anyway, it was prescribed that I ought to get to know the folks better, and that was true, and
I did. Second, they ought to get to know me because now I'm in a different role, and they
need to look at me in that role and hear me talk about that role.
So, with the questionnaire that was put out, I was trying to figure out from them what they
sought--and you were one of them--
Q:
Yes.
A:
--sought from me, the deputy, a role definition kind of thing.
Now, I sensed there must be somehow growth from my predecessor and where he fit in with
the Chief. Or maybe it wasn't. I don't know. But, for some reason, to me, there should be no
question about role. I mean, you already heard what I said about Hank Hatch in my
discussion, which seemed to be sort of typical of how I expect all Army activities to operate
and how deputies and chiefs of staff and commanders operate. So, although it seemed plain
to me because it was suggested, I went through it.
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