South Pacific Division Graduates Regional Leadership Development Class of 2010
Scott Nielsen, SPD Public Affairs
SAN FRANCISCO – Brig. Gen. Rock Donahue presided over the Class of 2010 Regional Leadership Development Program graduation ceremony at the Division Headquarters Sept 17, 2010 in San Francisco.
The RLDP class briefed District Commanders, Senior Executive Service members, District Deputies for Project Management, and Division HQ staff on their experiences and development during the year-long program.
“South Pacific Division was among the first in the Corps to develop a regional program to develop leaders,” BG Donahue said. “It’s our top priority because the return on investment for both our organization and the individual is enduring.”
BG Donahue said RLDP is all about developing future leaders. “I believe everything rises and falls on leadership.”
Since 2000, the South Pacific Division RLDP has pioneered USACE efforts to groom future leaders with a broad perspective on USACE and the region.
More than 170 students have graduated from the program and many have successfully competed for promotion and new assignments within USACE, other agencies, and the private sector.
“Our goal is to give you the skills, knowledge and attributes you need to become senior leaders in the Corps, the Army, and Federal government,” he said. “We are extremely proud of you.”
In addition to learning leadership skills, the class developed a set of sustainability standards to apply to USACE civil works projects, specifically Flood Risk Management.
All federal agencies are required to reduce their carbon footprint over the next decade due to executive orders signed by the former and current administrations. These executive orders place an emphasis on federal agencies becoming more sustainable.
“Sustainability is using resources with respect for their finite nature and in such way as to promote a healthy environment today and tomorrow,” said Allison Bremner, planner for the San Francisco District.
“It’s possible that if we build a project to be sustainable it may be more cost effective throughout the life of the project."
The RLDP class identified 196 standards in areas as diverse as contracting, cultural resources, energy, public involvement, soils and vegetation, water quality and wildlife habitat and developed the Corps of Engineers Sustainability Initiative (COESI).
The class reviewed six sustainability system rating methods for their applicability to Corps civil works, including the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building credits and Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme (CEEQUAL) before they developed COESI.
“Our class has done the first steps towards creation of a system of sustainable standards for USACE,” said Tamara Massong, planner for Albuquerque District. “Our recommendation is that USACE partner with the American Society of Civil Engineers and SPD’s Sustainable Engineering Center and develop accredited standards and a numeric rating system.”