VICKSBURG, Miss – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District has selected Marc Gerald as chief of the Emergency Management Branch.
In his new role, Gerald will serve as the principal advisor to USACE Vicksburg District Commander Col. Jeremiah Gipson on disasters, national emergencies, and related response activities. He will lead the district’s Emergency Management Program, overseeing Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies Act and Stafford Act program operations.
Gerald brings extensive emergency management and operational experience to the position. Prior to his selection, he served as an Operations Officer and Emergency Operations Specialist with the USACE Reachback Operations Center at the Engineer Research and Development Center.
During his career, Gerald served as the Public Law 84-99 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies Program Manager for the Vicksburg District, managing Emergency Support Function #3 (ESF #3) mission assignments and flood-fight operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He also supported numerous emergency response missions as a Blue Roof Data Management Specialist across the USACE footprint, including responses to Hurricanes Irma, Maria, Michael, Laura, and Delta. Additionally, he served as an N-LGL Cadre member during Hurricane Ida response efforts and recent Kentucky tornado relief missions.
In addition to his civilian service with the Department of Defense, Gerald served in the National Guard and Army Reserve in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi for 28 years, and has one combat deployment to Iraq. He retired in 2018 as an Engineer Officer. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and the U.S. Army Engineer School.
Gerald’s distinguished service has earned him numerous military and civilian awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Civilian Achievement Award, Army Civilian Commendation Award, and Army Civilian Humanitarian Service Award.
A native of Baton Rouge, Gerald is a National Local Government Liaison (LGL) Cadre member, a certified Project Management Professional, and an FAA-certified Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilot.
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 nine major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees.