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From a bright past to a brilliant future: adapting to a changing environment
Agenda and speakers
2:00 pm Welcome and Introductions
Robert A. Pietrowsky, Director IWR
Mr. Robert A Pietrwosky has been the Director of the Institute for Water Resources since 2000, overseeing national programs of water resources planning & policy development, engineering science, and technology transfer activities focused on linking economic, social, environmental, public safety and hydrologic considerations within a framework of water resources systems analysis. Bob’s 38-year career with the Corps has afforded him with the opportunity to experience water resources development issues through a wide range of perspectives. Bob also serves on the U.S. National Committee for the UN’s International Hydrological Program; the Governing Board for the Institute for Water Education (IHE) in Delft, Netherlands; and the Permanent Engineering Board for the Columbia River Treaty between the U.S. and Canada.
Remarks
2:15 pm Opening Remarks
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
On August 11, 2009 President Barack Obama appointed Jo-Ellen Darcy as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) following confirmation by the Senate. As Assistant Secretary, Ms. Darcy establishes policy direction and provides supervision of the Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program, including all reimbursable work performed on behalf of Federal and non-Federal entities, as well as the formulation and oversight of the program and budget of the Army National Cemeteries. These responsibilities include programs for conservation and development of the nation's water and wetland resources, flood control, navigation, and shore protection. Prior to her appointment, Jo-Ellen Darcy was the Senior Environmental Advisor to the Senate Finance Committee, responsible for environment, conservation and energy issues.
Remarks
Steven L. Stockton, Director of Civil Works, HQUSACE
As Director of Civil Works, Mr. Steven L. Stockton shares the responsibilities of the Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, under the policy guidance of the Chief of Engineers and the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), for managing and directing the policy development, programming, planning, design, construction, emergency response, operation, and maintenance activities of the Army Civil related land resources of the U.S. He also serves as Chair of the U.S. Section Permanent Engineering Board for the U.S. Canada Columbia River Treaty, and is a Governor on the World Water Council Board of Directors.
Remarks
3:00 pm Induction into IWR’s Gallery of Distinguished Employees
Michael R. Krouse (1964-2000) (in absentia)
Presented by Mr. Darrell Nolton, IWR Group Manager
Mr. Krouse served in the Corps of Engineers for 36 years, beginning with his work as an economist at the Ohio River Division. He served two years in the Army including a year with the Corps of Engineers in Vietnam. Mr. Krouse came to IWR in 1972, shortly after its inception. During his 28-year tenure at IWR, he lead a wide range of innovative research programs that defined and elevated IWR’s role within the Corps’ and the Nation’s water resources management community. Mr. Krouse was responsible for many advances in water resources planning and evaluation techniques. He was on the leading edge of innovation in the field and his contributions have had a lasting impact on the practices of Corps field offices, and the Nation, by extension and technological diffusion. He was steadfast in serving the interests of objective analysis. Mr. Krouse led studies on the valuation of the outputs of Corps projects, flood warning preparedness, socioeconomic considerations, and risk analysis in planning. He was instrumental in preparing a series of National Economic Development Manuals for Corps planners. As Chief of the Planning Methodologies and Decision Support Research Program, Mr. Krouse held primary responsibility for several major research programs, including Planning Methodologies, Water Supply and Conservation, Risk Analysis and the Evaluation of Environmental Investments Research Program. Mr. Krouse was awarded the Department of the Army’s Meritorious Civilian Service medal at his retirement.
Michael R. Walsh (1972-2008)
Presented by Mr. Robert A. Pietrowsky, IWR Director
Mr. Michael R.Walsh began his career in 1972 as an Army Engineer, assigned as a civil engineer with the Math Hydraulics Division, Hydraulics Laboratory, Waterways Experiment Station (WES). Mr. Walsh joined the Institute for Water Resources in 1978, where he excelled as an analyst, specializing in hydroelectric power project evaluation. His career at IWR covered a broad area of very specialized technical analyses. Mr. Walsh was in the forefront of the computer-aided analytical revolution within the Corps. His diverse background and his strong technical, management and leadership skills were key to his many contributions in evolving areas of technological improvements in water resources development. He developed the Automated Budget System (ABS) used to formulate, defend and execute the $2 billion Civil Works O&M annual budget. His efforts in this regard were critical to the success of the USACE O&M Plan of Improvement Program, which ultimately received the vice president's Hammer Award in 1996. Mr.Walsh was repeatedly recognized for his dedication, professionalism and intellect. He received the IWR Award for Scientific-Technical Excellence in 2003. Mr.Walsh received a Commander's Award recognizing his Federal career. He retired as the Senior Business Manager of IWR in 2008.
Arlen D. Feldman, P.E. (1972-2004)
Presented by Mr. Darryl Davis, former HEC Director
Mr. Feldman had over 35 years of experience in the water resources and hydrologic engineering professionupon his retirement in 2004. He was the leader of the Corps’ Hydrologic Engineering Research Program for over 20 years. He served on both national and international projects for water resources development. He served as a technical expert testifying before the California State Senate about the impact of climate change on Corps projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Mr. Feldman led a UN team to assist Yugoslavia in the development of the Morava River Basin using USAdeveloped hydrologic engineering software. He has contributed to and managed development of several leading hydrologic computer models including the Corps’ HEC-1 Flood Hydrograph Package and its successor, the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS). His work is documented in over 30 technical papers, chapters in books, edited proceedings, and refereed professional papers. As Chairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Surface Water Hydrology Committee and Water Resources Engineering Division, Mr. Feldman was instrumental in the justification for and development of ASCE’s new Hydrologic Engineering Branch and Journal. Mr. Feldman’s technical specialties include: watershed and urban hydrology, water resources systems and planning, dam safety, remote sensing, and geographic information systems. He performed research, conducted practical applications, developed software, and lectured widely on these subjects. Also, in 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute.
Kyle E. Schilling, P.E., D.WRE (1963-1999)
Presented by Dr. Jim Johnson, former Chief of Planning, HQUSACE
Mr. Kyle Schilling, served as Director of the Corps of Engineers’ Institute for Water Resources (IWR) from 1990- 1999, providing leadership for improving the Corps’ civil works water efforts during a period of rapidly evolving changes in the US. Under his leadership, IWR produced a steady stream of innovative policies, procedures and methods that rapidly and effectively addressed the changing needs of the Nation in water resources and environmental management. He encouraged staff to seek out opportunities and partnerships with other agencies for joint problem-solving; he advocated collaboration with Corps districts in order to stay current with ongoing needs of field planners; and he brought the Institute closer to serving the policy and strategic planning needs of Headquarters and to have IWR serve as the antennae for the Corps with respect to emerging issues. While serving as IWR Director, Mr. Schilling also served as Director of the Water Resources Support Center (WRSC) from 1996-1997. Mr. Schilling is a registered professional engineer; and a Certified Diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers. He was the WRSC Engineer of the Year in 1987; received the ASCE-WRPMD Service to the Profession Award in 1995; and the ASCE-Zone II Government Engineer of the Year Award in 1995; and was elected a “Friend of UCOWR” (Universities Council on Water Resources) in 1999. He is listed in “Who’s Who in Science and Engineering.”
3:30 pm IWR 2020 – Adapting the Corps Role in Water Resources to a Changing Environment
Moderator:
Dr. Len Shabman, Resources for the Future
Dr. Len Shabman was a professor at Virginia Tech for 30 years, before he joined RFF in 2002. He has been recognized as an Associate of the National Academies of Science.When not in the academic world he has been a staff economist at the United States Water Resources Council and Scientific Adviser to the Assistant Secretary of Army, Civil Works. He has had a long relationship with, and appreciation for, the work of IWR, beginning in 1970. Recent work with an IWR connection includes a history of the policy and engineering decisions leading up to the levee failures at New Orleans during Katrina and a on-going study that will describe and evaluate the nation's policies and programs for flood risk management.
Panelists:
Dr. John Boland, Johns Hopkins University
Dr. John Boland is an engineer and an economist, specializing in water and energy resources, environmental economics, and public utility management. He is currently Professor Emeritus at the Johns Hopkins University, after more than thirty years in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Boland has been a consultant to numerous utilities and government agencies in the U.S. and in other countries, as well as a number of international agencies. He is a Life Member of the American Water Works Association and past chairman of its Economic Research Committee. He is also a Lifetime National Associate of the National Academies and is a member of US EPA's Environmental Financial Advisory Board. He is one of a team of authors who contributed to the recently published Corps-sponsored book entitled “The Evolution of Water Resource Planning and Decision Making.”
Dr. Denise Reed, University of New Orleans
Dr. Denise Reed is a University Research Professor at the University of New Orleans. Her research interests include coastal marsh response to sea-level rise and how this is affected by human activities. She is involved in ecosystem restoration planning both in Louisiana and in California. Dr. Reed has served on numerous boards and panels including the Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board, a number of National Research Council Committees, and the Ecosystems Sciences and Management Working Group of the NOAA Science Advisory Board.
Dr. Gerry Galloway, University of Maryland
Dr. Gerry Galloway is a Glenn L Martin Institute Professor of Engineering and Affiliate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland where he teaches and conducts research in national water resources policy and management. He currently serves as a consultant to several federal and state and non-governmental agencies on water resources policy development and flood risk management. He is a consultant to The Nature Conservancy on its Yangtze River Program and recently chaired an Interagency Levee Policy Review Committee for FEMA and a study of deep flooding potential in the Central Valley for California. He is a professional engineer, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.
5:00 pm Reception & Unveiling of Timeline
Robert A. Pietrowsky, Director IWR
7:00 pm Dinner
Guest Speaker: Henry J. Hatch, P.E., Lt. Gen. (USA-Ret.)
In 1992 Lt. Gen. (USA-Ret.) Henry J. (Hank) Hatch completed a distinguished 35-year career in the United States Army, retiring as a Lieutenant General. He was the Chief of Engineers and the Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers whose missions include military construction and environmental engineering for the Army and Air Force and the Army’s civil water resources program. As Chief of Engineers, General Hatch commanded over 40,000 members of the Corps and supervised Corps and other Army programs of over $13 billion annually. Hatch strengthened project management; developed a more effective environmental ethic and program within the Corps; fostered and developed productive “partnering” with customers and contractors; championed alternate dispute resolution; and conceived and promoted new concepts for peacetime operations for the Army including capacity building in the developing world. Among his military awards and decorations are two Distinguished Service Medals (the Army’s highest peacetime award), the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Bronze Star Medals, three Air Medals, and two Army Commendation Medals. He is a Distinguished Member of ASCE and was awarded ASCE’s Outstanding Projects and Leaders award for his lifetime achievement in government (’06).
Vignettes
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INSTITUTE FOR WATER RESOURCES
April 12, 2010
