Experiences at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

I have done a variety of things during my time at the Corps. I am a contractor and my main function is application development. However, when I first started I was the IT support person for Construction Division, which allowed me to visit field offices throughout the southeast. After I moved to the application development group I have often been called upon to visit field offices to assist with IT support issues such as mass upgrades or new installations. As a result I've gotten to visit all of the dams, lakes and hydropower projects. It's been a great opportunity to see what the Corps does and enjoy the natural beauty of the south....

I work as a contractor with the Corps of Engineers. I am currently employed by Bowhead Information Technology Services. I do a wide variety of things for the Corps, including application development, user and system support, manage the issuance of Common Access Cards and PKI technology, act as the liaison for IT issues between field offices and district...

Having the skills and knowledge of construction, ability to read plans and specs, and the technical skills required for estimates and drawing production related to the engineering field.

Duties: Work with lead structural engineers to develop complex 3 dimensional preliminary and final designs for various engineering features of navigation, flood control, recreational facilities, and local flood protection projects in accordance to current engineering principles and practices. In developing preliminary and final contract drawings for civil works projects, coordinate with personnel in other fields to ensure accuracy and sound engineering decisions are made and reflected in the drawings. Specializing in 3D CADD programs, I have had training and work experience in Bentley's Microstation, Structural package, Tri-Forma, and Autodesk's AutoCAD programs to better prepare structural layouts in preliminary and final forms using the analytical information obtained. Applying these packages to projects, I have submitted Three Dimensional Models to WES for finite element analysis to check soundness of current design criteria. One model was a pump station for the Lower Mudd LPP, and another was a cooperative effort on several models with a colleague for Meldahl and Greenup Miter Gates. The gates for Meldahl were designed and drawn in half the normal time that it usually takes because of being able to see what was going on as it was virtually being built. The Greenup gates benefited from this process greatly, because both gates were the same width, copies of the same models were able to be used and with minor adjustments to height and some thicknesses, I was able to create all the sheet files and have it ready for ITR in two weeks time. Being given the freedom to carry out assignments for Soo Locks New Lock, Emergency Gate, and Miter Gate, Meldahl & Greenup Miter Gates, Braddock Bulkhead Recess and Recess Fillers, has increased the speed at which they are completed in their respective phases and progress shown with renderings and in 3D PDF's. Frequently I am asked for advice on drawing techniques for standard and nonstandard items during the course of many projects by team members in the structural section and other disciplines to ensure continuity of the drawings. I check contactor's shop drawings when assigned for agreement of details and requirements of plans and specifications. I have taken the initiative to create .dgn libraries, cell libraries, Plot settings files and text and dimension libraries that help keep our structural drawings in compliance with current CADD standards, in addition to staying current with changes and modifications to the standards. While working at this position I have had to navigate through design & software problems, while waiting on answers from technical support I actively sought ways to work around the problem so that dead lines could be met. With renderings of solid models I have been able to help improve the design and design process by showing the lead structural engineer interferences and concerns with the project. At this time I am attending college to increase my knowledge in the field of engineering, having completed Associates in Science in Technical Studies, I plan to continue on and strive for a Bachelors degree of Science in Civil Engineering. I have successfully completed the introductory bridge inspection training, CEBIS training, and presently am active in the bridge inspection program for the district. Projects I have participated in include: Bluestone DSA Phases IIB & C, Soo Locks DDR, Lower Mudd LPP, Dover Dam DSA, Braddock Locks Bulkhead Replacement, Montgomery Emergancey Gate Replacement, Meldahl & Greenup Miter Gate Replacement, Sutton Fishing Pier, Kentucky Locks DDR, Jenkins House, Parkersburg VLP, many O & M 5 parts', and Review shop drawings for Marmet Lock Replacement....