ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA - May 22, 2012. The Planning Associates (PAs) Class of 2012 spent three weeks in the Washington, DC area March 5-23, 2012 as part of their “DC Experience.” Each day was filled with lectures, field trips, and networking with senior leaders and other USACE and government staff. The class spent several days at USACE Headquarters, meeting with USACE leaders and staff as well as individuals from the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) office. They also spent time at IWR, Congress, the Pentagon, and Office of Management and Budget. Their experience included a bus tour of the DC area that highlighted buildings and monuments that USACE assisted with the design or construction.
Highlights of the PAs visit at IWR included a discussion about IWR with Director Bob Pietrowsky, information about some of IWR’s work including Shared Vision Planning, Conflict Resolution and Public Participation, IWR Virtual Planner, Web Based Technology to Support Planning Modernization, GUMP, NED Manuals, Economic Guidance Memorandums, Flood Damage Data Programs, and U.S. Port and Inland Waterway Modernization Options. They also learned about Risk Informed Decision Making, Risk Communication and Government Relations.
Activities included: Team Assessments, senior leadership shadowing, attendance at a Murder Board and a Civil Works Review Board for Savannah Harbor, and a Mock Interview for a GS15 Chief of Planning position.
More about the Planning Associates Program
The Planning Associates Program is an advanced training opportunity in water resources planning offered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its goals are to broaden planners’ competencies in solving complex water resources problems and challenges and to strengthen their leadership talents. The program curriculum is rich in team building, leadership training, experiential training in the USACE Civil Works business programs, case studies, individual and group projects, instructional training and experiences, and many networking opportunities with leaders from the public and private sectors.
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