As of August 21, 2017, Mr. Coleman is serving a temporary assignment as the Acting Director of the Institute for Water Resources, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Field Operating Activity located within the Washington D.C. National Capital Region (NCR), in Alexandria, Virginia and with satellite centers in New Orleans, LA; Davis, CA; Golden, CO; and Pittsburgh, PA.
November 2009 to present. Chief of Office of Water Project Review, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (HQUSACE). Duties include direct supervision of a multi-disciplinary group of 17 engineers, scientists, and economists who perform policy compliance reviews of decision documents for projects requiring Congressional authorization or approval by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), for modification of existing authorizations, and for other studies of complex water resource problems across the United States. During this period, over $40 Billion in water resources development projects have been authorized. The Office of Water Project Review also supports field offices through consultation and training to assist in producing policy compliant decision documents. Develops and maintains external strategic alliances and professional relationships through the representation of USACE on multi-agency technical committees, participation in national conferences, and through collaboration with the Department of Army, the Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Congress on project specific policy matters.
May 2013 – December 2013. Senior Policy Expert, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). Completed an 8 month detail as a planning and policy expert. Identified, defined, and directed comprehensive planning studies. Made explicit project recommendations and developed planning implementation procedures through coordination and cooperation with the Corps of Engineers; stakeholders; Congressional Members and their staff, and congressional committees; the Office of Management and Budget; and the Council on Environmental Quality. Prepared review reports and conducted oral briefings to defend positions before the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), for decision.
January 2007 – November 2009. Deputy Chief, North Atlantic Division Regional Integration Team, HQUSACE. Worked with all levels of the Corps of Engineers organization and with external stakeholders to build relationships and to resolve regional issues. Provided centralized headquarters support and guidance to 5 districts in the northeastern United States, developing and managing a $1 billion annual water resource and environmental program throughout a region covering 6 major river basins (Connecticut, Hudson, Delaware, Susquehanna, Potomac, and James). Engaged in the development of 5 major ports/harbors (Boston Harbor, Port of New York and New Jersey, Port of Philadelphia, Baltimore Harbor, and Norfolk Harbor) and directly involved in issue resolution at the headquarters level of several agencies including the Department of Interior, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
August 2005 – January 2007. Senior Planning Program Manager, HQUSACE. Following Hurricane Katrina, led several initiatives spanning the suite of Civil Works mission areas, and participated in several national level coordination meetings with Federal agencies such as the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency and National interest groups such as Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy.
October 1985 – August 2005. US Army Corps of Engineers - Baltimore District. Held a variety of positions in the district’s Planning Division, most recently the Chief of the Civil Project Development Branch from September 2001 until August 2005. Provided organizational leadership, supervising an interdisciplinary planning team of over 40 scientists, engineers, and administrative personnel. Oversaw investigations of navigation, hurricane risk reduction, erosion control, flood risk reduction, recreation, water supply, and environmental restoration for major river basins and estuaries covering a six state area and the District of Columbia.
Education: Bachelors of Science Degree in Oceanography from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Wesley E. Coleman, Jr.
Chief, Office of Water Project Review
Acting Director of IWR
IWR Executive Office
703-428-8250
Wesley.E.Coleman@usace.army.mil