Vicksburg, Miss……Kirk Ross, Natural Resources Management Specialist with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District, recently returned from a more than two-year deployment that ended at Bagram, Afghanistan, in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
While deployed, he worked as a cartographer and then as the geographic information system team lead for the Programs and Project Management Division’s Data Management Section, Transatlantic Afghanistan District. As a cartographer, he supported the Army through the analysis of a variety of geospatial resources. In recognition of his outstanding work, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism, NATO Medal, and the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award Medal. He also received coins for outstanding service from LTG Thomas P. Bostick, Commander, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; Transatlantic Afghanistan Division-Afghanistan Brig. Gen. Donald Jackson – JENG Commander; Transatlantic Afghanistan District USACE Commander, Col. Peter Helmlinger; and the U. S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit.
“The opportunity to deploy overseas was a success for me. From the deployment, I was able to gain a tremendous amount of knowledge. This information has broadened my capacities and abilities for future endeavors.
“Also, I was able to work alongside with a number of wonderful individuals. The memories I created with these great people will forever remain close to my heart.
“I highly recommend anyone willing to deploy to take the opportunity. There are so many opportunities and possibilities revealed once you allow yourself to deploy outside the contiguous United States,” stated Ross.
As a member of the Project Resources Management Branch in the Operations Division, Ross will resume his role by reviewing environmental compliance documents and supporting geospatial functions for the Mississippi and Arkansas lakes along with providing support to the site offices throughout Louisiana.
Ross is a native of Corinth, Mississippi. He earned an Associate of Forestry Technology degree from Itawamba Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Sciences with an emphasis in Wildlife Management from Mississippi State University, and completed graduate courses from the University of Mississippi in geographic information systems. His parents are Perry and Dennis Ross from the Dennis community near Belmont, Mississippi.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to play a key role in Defense Department operations as well as respond to natural disasters, both at home and abroad. Every year the Vicksburg District deploys volunteers from its civilian workforce to support the U. S. Army’s mission in foreign fields with engineers, administrators, real estate and environmental specialists. This workforce provides a unique expertise to the fighting and construction forces, including a reach-back capability that taps the skills of the Corps of Engineers as a whole. For more information visit our website. www.mvk.usace.army.mil
Release no. 14-088