VICKSBURG, Miss. -- Three employees with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District were recently recognized at the 2020 USACE National Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The annual ceremony on Nov. 12 honored district employees for outstanding contributions to USACE’s mission in a variety of categories and specializations, including levee safety, public service and value engineering.
Brad Arcement, a branch chief for the USACE Levee Safety Center, was named “Levee Safety Professional of the Year” for USACE for his work as a lead facilitator or co-facilitator on multiple large-scale levee projects. Arcement has helped engineers and technical experts across USACE scope risk assessments to support studies and implement risk-informed designs. His technical skill and dedication have significantly enhanced the implementation of risk-informed design for USACE’s dam and levee safety programs.
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Arcement earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Louisiana Tech University and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Mississippi Engineering Society, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the Deep Foundation Institute.
David Dyer, chief of the district’s Office of Counsel, received the Chief Counsel’s Bert Pettinato and Barb Lollar Award for Pride in Public Service The award recognized Dyer’s dedication to mentoring and guiding his staff toward professional advancement in support of the USACE mission. As a result of his leadership, his office pursues a critical role in providing inter-district legal services, both nationally and internationally, and he has encouraged several members of his staff to pursue and obtain advanced degrees in fields that complement the Office of Counsel’s engagement in the USACE legal enterprise.
Dyer holds a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University, a JD degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in business administration from Loyola University in New Orleans. Dyer began his career with USACE in 2007 with the New Orleans District, where he managed several large procurements and disputes related to the hurricane storm damage and risk reduction system. He has served as district counsel with the Vicksburg District since 2017.
John Madison, a value engineering officer for the Engineering and Technical Services Branch, received the Value Engineering Professional Award in the “Wild Duck” category, which recognizes an officer who has demonstrated a high degree of determination and integrity. As part of the Value Engineering team, Madison helps ensure district efforts deliver optimal outputs through cost analysis and detailed studies. His work on projects such as the Monroe floodwall bank stabilization and the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway, Lindy C. Boggs Lock and Dam sediment barrier wall upgrade resulted in an estimated savings of $3 million and $12.4 million, respectively.
Madison holds a master’s degree in biosystems engineering from Mississippi State University. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Mississippi and holds a value methodology associate certification.
“We are extremely proud of our team members for their dedication and valuable contributions to our organization,” said USACE Vicksburg District Commander Col. Robert Hilliard. “Their hard work ensures we can execute our mission at the highest possible level and deliver quality products and services to our partners and the communities we serve.”
USACE employs more than 34,000 government civilian and 700 military personnel.
The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana that holds seven major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The district is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel.
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