USACE recognizes employees on Founders’ Day

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District recognized dedicated personnel at the annual Founders’ Day Ceremony at the District headquarters on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

The following employees received individual honorary awards:

Dana Moree, Hydraulic Engineer in the Modeling, Mapping, and Consequences Center, received the Employee of the Year Award for her exceptional work ethic, deep commitment to Army values, and dedication to the Corps’ mission. She went above and beyond to support high-priority district, regional, and national missions while actively mentoring local staff and exemplifying the core values of duty and selfless service.

Kristi Gordon, Civil Engineer, received the Engineer of the Year Award for her deep commitment to Army values through her strong work ethic and dedication to the Corps’ mission. She has demonstrated exceptional technical leadership at the Vicksburg District‘s Quality Manager within the Design Branch of the Engineering and Construction Division. She revolutionized reporting by developing division-wide dashboards and provided critical direction as temporary Technical Lead for the Yazoo Backwater Pumping Plant Project.

Heather Clark, Chief of the Construction Branch, received the Commander’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). She was recognized for outstanding leadership in recruiting, developing, and mentoring staff in the Engineering and Construction Division of the Vicksburg District.

Herbert “Dale” Hearn, a Cartographic Technician in the Geospatial Data Section of the Engineering and Construction Division, received the Paddle Wheel Award for his exceptional leadership and technical expertise in managing the Vicksburg District’s geographic information systems and serving as the lead Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data processor. His cross-functional support proved critical to the Engineering and Construction, Real Estate, and Operations divisions. His mastery of advanced surveying techniques and his proactive willingness to assume additional responsibilities has made his contributions invaluable to the success of the Vicksburg District’s mission.

Camryn Willoughby, Project Manager in the Project Management Division, received the Volunteer Leadership Award for her selfless service and unwavering dedication to boosting team morale and supporting critical district operations. She was recognized for her meticulous attention to detail in planning key district events that benefited her colleagues, the community, and the Vicksburg District.

Sharon Brown, Workforce Management Support Specialist in the Project Management Division, received the Administrator Award, which recognizes non-supervisory employees in the business-technical or administrative support occupations.

Diamonde Wilkerson-Harris, Accountant in the Resource Management Division, received the Professional Award, which recognizes employees in positions covered by the Office of Personnel Management’s qualification standards for administrative, management, professional and scientific positions other than engineers and scientists.

Jon Munz II, Natural Resource Specialist at Lake Ouachita, received the Park Ranger Award for his outstanding performance in visitor assistance, water safety and natural resource management duties.

Wiley Griffin, a Geologist in the Geology and Laboratory Branch, received the Scientist Award, which recognizes an employee in environmental fields who demonstrated hard work and dedication to their field. His expertise and technical oversight have been instrumental to the Yazoo Backwater and Arkabutla mega projects.

Browning Meyer, a Data Scientist in the Geospatial Data Section of the Engineering and Construction Division, received the Vicksburg District Emergency Manager of the Year Award for his efforts as a volunteer on the Temporary Power Mission during Tropical Cyclone Sinlaku where he helped modernize systems and incorporated lessons learned to enhance future response efforts.

Lakierra Brown, a Civil Engineer in the Design Branch of the Engineering and Construction Division, received the STEM Employee of the Year Award, which gives special recognition to the employee who has demonstrated a pattern of high achievement, excellence, and leadership in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Josh Artman was presented with the Student of the Year award for demonstrating exceptional leadership, ingenuity, and commitment to excellence within the Design Branch of the Engineering and Construction Division.

The following employees received national awards:

Matthew McCurley, a Civil Engineer in the Geotech Branch of the Engineering and Construction Division, received the 2026 Instrumentation and Performance Monitoring Award for his outstanding technical expertise, leadership, and commitment to evaluating and assessing structural and geotechnical instrumentation data for critical infrastructure. His leadership in developing a complex safety monitoring plan for Arkabutla Dam protected critical infrastructure and improved data-informed decisions, while his database development advances safety practices throughout USACE.

Jason Paschal, a Civil Engineer in the Structures Branch of the Engineering and Construction Division, received the 2026 Bridge Safety Engineer of the Year Award for his unique technical skills, expansive regional support, and leadership on critical infrastructure projects. He oversees critical infrastructure, utilizing his rare Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) Level 2 rope-access certification for cost-saving, high-angle inspections. His highly sought-after load-rating and technical review expertise supports districts nationwide.

The following teams received honorary awards:

The Vicksburg District (MVK) Slough Slide Repair Team was commended as the recipient of a Team Award for exceptional performance during the 2025 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (DRSAA) mission. They repaired an unprecedented backlog of slough slides across the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) project in a single repair season. By utilizing innovative soil stabilization and advanced moisture control, the team exceeded production targets and ensured the integrity of vital flood risk reduction infrastructure.

The Team Safety Award was presented to the Vicksburg District Maintenance Section Dive Team for their outstanding performance during 2025. This recognition highlights their response to a hose repair on the Dredge Jadwin, as well as their bravery, unmatched professionalism, and dedication to supporting missions nationwide. Team members are comprised of employees from the River Operations Branch of the Operations Division.

The Wage Grade Team Award was presented to the Arkabutla Lake Wage Grade Staff for exceptional performance of their duties accomplishing quality, productive, dedication, and safe work with both routine project duties and critical support efforts tied to the new outlet works project.

The following employees were also recognized:

Receiving Civilian Service Achievement Medals:

• Adrienne Frank for her exceptional meritorious service as a Civil Engineer in the Geotechnical Branch, Engineering and Construction Division.
• LaShunte Griffith for her exceptional meritorious service as a Civil Engineer in the Geotechnical Branch, Engineering and Construction Division.
• Porter Holliday for his exceptional meritorious service as a Civil Engineer in the Geotechnical Branch, Engineering and Construction Division.
• Julie Vicars for her outstanding service during Winter Storm Fern as a Data Scientist in the Geospatial Data Section, Engineering and Construction Division.

Receiving Civilian Service Commendation Medals:

• Mamie Doyle for her exceptional meritorious service as a Human Resources Specialist with the Labor Management Employee Relations Division. 
• Blake Gober for his exceptional meritorious service as a Civil Engineer in the Geotechnical Branch, Engineering and Construction Division.
• Taft Tucker for his exceptional meritorious service as the Chief of the Cost Engineering, Specifications, and Relocations Branch, Engineering and Construction Division.
• Tom Shaw for his exceptional meritorious service as the Deputy Chief in the Project Management Division.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges while advancing its commitment to building infrastructure, not paperwork. The district delivers vital missions across a 68,000-square-mile area spanning portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Its area of responsibility includes nine major river basins and approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees, supporting flood risk reduction, navigation, environmental stewardship, and resilient infrastructure for the region.