...U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Video Conference Solution Managerial Applications of Information Technology – MIS535 October 8, 2015 Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………….... 1 Company Background……………………………………………………. 1 Discussion of Business Problem…………………………………………. 3 High-Level Solution……………………………………………………… 5 Benefits of Solving the Problem………………………………………….. 5 Business/Technical Approach…………………………………………….. 6 Business Process Changes………………………………………………… 13 Technology or Business Practices used to augment the Solution………… 13 Conclusion……………………………………………………………..…. 16 Summary of Recommendations………………………………………….. 16 High-Level Implementation Plan ……………………………………….. 16 References………………………………………………………………... 20 ABSTRACT The purpose of this project is to identify the problems and benefits of a video conferencing system in the U.S. Army Corps Engineers-Los Angeles District which is consistent with seven locations. For this project, an “action research” process was developed addressing the following inquiries: * Organization Background * Discussion of the Business Problem * The High Level Solution for Using Video Conference Tool (VCT) * Technology of Business Practices used to Augment the Solution * Business/Organization Technical Approach * Benefits of Solving the Problem * High Level Implementation Plan for USACE- Los Angeles District * Summary of the Project ...
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... U.S. Army Corps of Engineers The U.S. Army corps of Engineers agency lies in the administrative structure of the federal government and is located in the executive branch as an independent agency of government in the Department of Defense. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency. The U.S. Corps of Engineers is made up of both army and civilian personnel. The Army Corps makes up the world's largest (public) engineering, design and construction business in the United States and all over the world. The U.S. Army Corps was developed to provide public engineering services in both peace and war to assist in providing security to the Nation. The Corps further works with partners all over the world to assist in this endeavor. The U.S. Army Corps builds and structures in which assists in training two great military forces; the Army and the Air Force. Both Armed Forces use these structures for training when they are deployed for war. The U.S. Army Corps develops security measures for Homeland Security and FEMA or Federal Emergency Management Agency. They assist with security planning, research development, quick response and overall protection. Emergency response falls under two major public laws (1) the Flood Control and Coastal Emergency Act and (2) the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It is noted by usace.army.mil that the USACE responds to at least 30 or more disasters annually and other state and local emergencies. The Corps further assist...
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... Emmanuel Montoro a. Full and Open Competition. Given a situation of a federal agency with a requirement, determine if that requirement can or is required to be contracted for using other than full and open competition. Cite the authorization and provide the rationale/requirement for using that method. The subject solicitation for support to the US Army Corps of Engineers is for a single award task order contract (SATOC), requiring a wide range of professional services in the areas of restoration, conservation, compliance, prevention, technology, sustainability, energy and scientific studies. These type of services associated in the contract must be solicited in a full and open competition because the requirements are not unique and there will be more than one responsible provider that could very well accommodate all these type of services. To be able to justify these criteria, a full market research must be initiated by the US Army Corp of Engineers. The acquisition planning and market research must be prepared before the composition of the solicitation. The requirements for support of The US Corps of Engineers (USACE) must be well defined in the acquisition planning and documented in a Statement of Need, which should explain the events that led to the requirement of technical support. The statement must also have the answer why the services are needed, referencing other documents such as Mission Statements and Strategic Goals. Since this requirement was identified...
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...Spring 14 Spring 14 08 Fall 08 Fall US Army Corps of Engineers Ken Lynch A brief analysis of the US Army Corps of Engineers role in locks and dams US Army Corps of Engineers Ken Lynch A brief analysis of the US Army Corps of Engineers role in locks and dams US Army Corps of Engineers Nature has constructed a labyrinth of highways perfect for resourceful materials handling. The web of rivers cutting their way throughout this country comprises the United States Inland Waterway System. There are over 12,000 navigable miles carrying almost 625 million tons of commodities annually on the rivers (C. James Kruse). An in depth look in one of the oldest methods of transportation describes the design, creation, implementation, and maintenance of locks and dams as conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers. A closer look will also be taken at the history of the US ACE. A brief explanation of what is the inland waterway helps to understand the significance the US Army Corps of Engineers has played in shaping the capacity of waterborne transportation. The United States has used rivers for materials handling dating back hundreds of years. As time went on, the potential for using rivers became more and more apparent. Locks and dams had to be constructed to fully utilize the waterways. The rivers were already in place but for barges to travel up and down the rivers the implementation of locks and dams alleviated the problems arising from drops in river elevation...
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...Administrator is Lisa P. Jackson. The President appoints an administrator for U.S. Environment Protection Agency and Congress can approve or decline the person. The US Environmental Protection Agency is an independent agency. The agency has approximately 17,000 full-time employees and engages many more people on a contractual basis. The purpose of U.S. Army of Corps of Engineer is to provide vital public engineering services in peace and war to strengthen the nation's security, energize the economy, and reduce risks from disasters. According to US Army of Corp Engineers website, the history of United States Army Corps of Engineers can be traced back to June 16, 1775, when the Continental Congress organized an army with a chief engineer and two assistants. Colonel Richard Gridley became General George Washington's first chief engineer; however, it was not until 1779 that Congress created a separate Corps of Engineers. Army engineers, including several French officers, were instrumental in some of the hard-fought battles of the Revolutionary War including Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and the final victory at Yorktown. The US Army Corps of Engineer is a U.S. federal agency that...
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...Agency Structure Miatika Carter Strayer University 505 Public Budgeting and Finance Dr. Keller October 27, 2012 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Agency In determining where each agency lies in the administrative structure of the federal government the United States Agencies involved in the administrative structure of the federal government were the military departments such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Army corps of engineers developed strategies to restores and protects the Nation’s water resources through studies of potential projects involving some construction of projects. Working with other Federal agencies the Corps helps communities respond and recover from floods and other natural disasters just like FEMA in case of emergencies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considered independent agency because it is an establishment created by Congress to address concerns that go beyond the scope of ordinary legislation. These agencies are responsible for keeping the government and economy running smoothly (Headquarters). Environmental Protection Agency There is the Environmental Protection Agency involved in protecting the human health, the environment as well as it is an agency established in the executive branch as an independent agency. As part of a government efforts to reduce spending are done mostly through support of funding to reduce water infrastructure earmarks as well as others that would help to fund the United States. United States Fish and Wildlife...
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...Agency Structure Jamisha B. Breland Professor Stephen Kenealy PAD 505: Public Budgeting and Finance April 22, 2012 Strayer University Determine where each agency lies in the administrative structure of the federal government. Identify it as an executive department or an independent agency. U.S. Corps of Engineers: An executive department and the primary federal manager of the nation’s water resources. The Corps build and maintain much of the nation’s navigation and flood damage reduction infrastructure and regulates the issuance of Clean Water Act dredge and fill and other permits to the private sector. For over 225 years, the Corps has transformed our nation’s rivers and coasts, constructing 11,000 miles of inland waterway navigation channels, 8,500 miles of levees and seawalls, and more than 600 dams (Sanet 2009). The agency also dredges hundreds of millions of cubic yards of material each year from the nation’s rivers and harbors and when Congress added environmental protection to the Corps mission areas, it grew to include some of the nation’s most controversial restoration projects. While Corps projects produced positive economic benefits, it caused environmental harm as well example (freshwater species North America and Hurricane Katrina coastal wetlands (Sanet 2009). The Bureau of Land Management: An independent agency and a small agency with a big mission to sustain the health, productivity and diversity of America’s public...
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...I most humbly recommend Lieutenant Colonel Lars B. Ostervold Jr for the Army Engineer Association’s Silver de Fleury Metal for outstanding service to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Army Engineer Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Lars B. Ostervold Jr completed the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Tulane University in May of 1994 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. LTC Ostervold’s first assignment was a Platoon Leader of a horizontal construction platoon in Alpha Company, 94th Engineer Battalion attached to the 1st Armored Division. LTC Ostervold took charge of his platoon as it was redeploying from the Leghorn Depot in Italy and started planning and preparations for a deployment to Bosnia. LTC Ostervold deployed his platoon to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. Once in Bosnia, he deployed his platoon across the Sava River to Comanche Base, where he planned and executed many successful horizontal construction missions. Notable among these were the Lukavac Fuel Transfer Point, Russian Sector access Roads and the parking lot, the Comanche Base FARP, and...
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...The Corp built the floodwall’s foundation on sand, a weak material that can easily subside when contacting water. That foundation could not hold concrete walls in position under the pressure of heavy floodwaters. Additionally, Maria Garzino, an engineer and contract specialist of the Corp had said that the pumps installed to handle floodwaters were inadequate and broken. Moreover, several floodwalls were reported to be only ten feet tall instead of fourteen feet as the Corp had claimed. By showing that evidences, Shearer wants to say how the malfunctioned levee and floodwall system had put New Orleans into the “wet ankles” position. Perhaps, if the flood-prevention system is strong enough, the impact of Hurricane Katrina would have been reduced. Unfortunately, having a poor flood-prevention system was not the only reason why New Orleans could not withstand the flood. When Hurricane Katrina arrived at the coast, its waters found a trail to enter the city due to the construction the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, which is known as “Mr. Go”. Mr. Go is a 76 miles canal that was constructed in 1968. The Corp stated that this canal could reduce the time and distance needed for...
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...Responded to Hurricane Katrina and Japan’s Tsunami Valerie F. Stokes Instructor Dr. Marion Lee PAD 525004016 201103 March 18, 2011 Introduction This research paper will explore the actions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and whether they acted fairly and responsively in their reaction time to the flooding in New Orleans and the tsunami flooding disaster in Japan. This paper will also try and determine if the United States Army Corps of Engineers neglected its duties to inspect and repair levees that were breached in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. A qualitative approach will be used to understand why different decisions were made by a federal agency when the situations are similar and when the policy of the agencies had not changed. This approach will bring to light how the United States Army Corps of Engineers neglected to maintain civilian safety and was shielded against any charge of neglect, shielded from making any retribution to the victims of the flood and how contractors hired by the Corps of Engineers are left to fend for themselves in times of tragedy. There were two different Presidents in authority during the tragedies. President Bush ruled the nation at the time Hurricane Katrina made land fall in New Orleans and created the breach in the levees. President Obama was in authority when the earthquake/tsunami occurred in Japan. Does the political party determine how federal agencies will response to disasters? Does who contribute the most...
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...History of the 299th Engineer Battalion and the Unit Crest SFC Chapman, Steven A. EN SLC SFC Williamson Abstract The 299th Engineer Battalion has been around for decades beginning with its first activation in March of 1943. It would go on to be activated and deactivated many times throughout its history. The 299th Engineer Battalion has been involved in many campaigns throughout the years that include World War II, Vietnam, Korean War, and many other conflicts. The 299th Engineer Battalion has been led by many great leaders throughout its historic lineage. The Battalion has received numerous awards to include the Presidential Unit Citation, Streamers, and various other honors. Just like many other units, the 299th Engineer...
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...Determine where each agency lies in the administrative structure of the federal government. Identify it as an executive department or an independent agency. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Serves an executive department and the primary federal manager of the nation’s water resources. The Corps builds coastal fortifications, surveys roads and canals, maintain much of the nation’s navigation and flood damage reduction infrastructure and regulates the issuance of Clean Water Act dredge and fill and other permits to the private sector. The Corps has transformed our nation’s rivers and coasts, constructing 12,000 miles of inland waterway navigation channels, 8,500 miles of levees and seawalls, and more than 600 dams (usace.army.mil). The agency also dredges more than 200 million cubic yards of material each year from the nation’s rivers and harbors and when Congress added environmental protection to the Corps mission areas, it grew to include some of the nation’s most controversial restoration projects. The Bureau of Land Management: An independent agency and a small agency with a big mission to sustain the health, productivity and diversity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. It administers more public land-over 250 million surface acres than other federal agency in the U. S. located in 12 west states, including Alaska. The BLM also manages 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation (blm.gov). Since...
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...PAD 505 Public Budget and Finance April 22, 2012 Dr. K In looking at the overall budget in which this current president has created for the fiscal year of 2013, I am noticing that one of the areas in which he would like to make revision to is the US Coast Guard. In the president’s budget one of his goals is to keep our military one of the finest, if not the finest in the world by investing many priorities as well as trying to make sure that he is also saving money in areas in which the United States could possible benefit from saving in. As you look at the coast guard, this is an area of the military in which has changed drastically over the years, and I say this because, at one point its main, even though it was its own branch of the armed forces, it objectives were to stand by the U.S. Navy under the Department of the Navy, However; now the US. Coast guard stands alone as one of five branches of the US Armed Forces. As one of the nation’s oldest seagoing branches, the coast guard is responsible for assisting the nation, with search and Rescue missions or (SAR), Aids to Navigation or (ATON), Port security, environmental protection situations, as well as Maritime Law Enforcement or (MLE). Under the Department of Homeland security, the president has laid out a budget in which seeks to assist this branch with replacing aging vessels that are well past their service life, and providing a much stronger platform so that these men and women who are in this branch of military...
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...Wesleyan University. Crisis Communication Critique Paper Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 25, 2005. It was a category 2 tropical typhoon that devastated vast parts of the city. The canals that were in New Orleans were not built to withstand the typhoon. This typhoon caused canal breaches and pumping-station failures. This caused a great deal of flooding of about 80 percent of the areas in New Orleans. Hurricane Katina caused a great deal of damage and displacement of many residents. There was a lot of blame placed on the engineers and the federally built flood protection system. That system was supposed to protect the residents from Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans was settled on a high ground along the Mississippi River. An extension was created near Lake Pontchartrain to help bring the level where it needed to be. Other areas were addressed in 1940 and in 1965 the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a levee system. This levee system was to cover a much larger geographic area. A study was done during the years of 1999-2001 and it was found that 51% of the terrestrial surface of the contiguous urbanized portions of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes...
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...the tragedies of this storm, America became a “new” America (Raven, Berg, & Hassenzahl, 2010)! The Mississippi River formed as a result of sediments depositing at the mouth of the river. Since New Orleans was a profitable area for importing and exporting goods a system of canals and levees were built so that navigation would be easier and flooding would be less likely (Raven, Berg, & Hassenzahl, 2010). Starting during the late 1800s, levees began to be built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Handwerk, 2005). A levee is an artificial reinforced embankment built to prevent a river from flooding or overflowing into a lower lying area (The Free Dictionary by Farlex, 2011). As with everything, money played a significant role in determining how strong the support would be for these levees. Other factors included the strength of the storms before the 1800s. Over the last millennium, the city of New Orleans continues to grow structurally and population wise. Army Corps of Engineers scientifically figured out that without...
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