Joseph Savage is the Programs Director for the South Pacific Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Programs Director (PD), a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Senior Executive at South Pacific Division, has primacy over a 5-state geographic area, as well as partial responsibilities for 5 additional states. The PD has oversight and direct accountability for delivering military installation products and services, civil works water resources management, and interagency support programs to include flood risk management, navigation, recreation, environmental support, ecosystem restoration, and regulatory permitting under the Clean Water Act. Under broad authority from the Commanding General, the Programs Director is steward for executive direction and management through four regional USACE Districts delivering $11.5 billion in capital investments.
Prior to joining the South Pacific Division, Mr. Savage was appointed Director of Programs for the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, US Army Corps of Engineers in April 2023. He was responsible for the delivery of military, civil works, interagency and international programs exceeding $10B throughout the sixteen states in the Great Lakes and Ohio River regions. He led program execution with the Division's seven District offices in Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Buffalo, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Huntington, WV; Louisville, KY; and Nashville, TN. The programs also encompassed national services including the National Planning for Inland Navigation Center of Expertise, the Army and Air Force Reserve National program, and the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) for the Army. The Division also supported the Department of Defense and the Services and other federal, state, and local agencies. In addition, Mr. Savage served as the Regional Dam and Levee Safety Officer.
Prior to his position at LRD, Mr. Savage served as the Regional Business Director for the division. Other previous assignments included the Deputy District Engineer and Chief of the Planning, Programs, and Project Management Division for the Huntington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Savage served on active duty as an Engineer Officer, where he served in a variety of staff and command positions. In 2002, he began working for USACE as a construction project engineer for the Savannah District’s Resident Office on Ft. Stewart, GA.
In 2003, he was assigned as a Project Manager on the Ft. Bragg team and was responsible for managing a variety of projects for Army and Special Operations units. He became the Senior Project Manager for the Fort Benning, GA team and was responsible for the cradle to grave construction program of over 200 projects, valued at over $2B, for the Base Realignment and Closure mission to relocate the Armor School from Ft. Knox, KY to Ft. Benning, GA.
Mr. Savage also served as Program Management Branch Chief for the USACE Japan District’s Host Nation construction program for all the U.S. military services throughout Japan. In this role, he was responsible for the coordination, planning, resourcing, and execution of a massive and diverse construction program that averaged over $1B per year. In 2017, he deployed for six months to Kabul, Afghanistan as the Task Force Enhanced Security Zone Deputy.
Mr. Joseph M. Savage was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2019. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, in 1997, from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Science degree in Project Management from George Washington University in 2011. He is a registered professional engineer in Georgia and is a certified project management professional. He is also a member of the Society of American Military Engineers.