USACE celebrates history, inducts employees on Founders’ Day

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District celebrated Founders’ Day and 153 years of service to the nation by inducting three employees into the Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees at the District headquarters.

Three retirees from the Vicksburg District were inducted into the Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees. Individuals nominated for the Gallery must have accomplished their assigned duties in an exceptional manner in comparison to their peers; developed or improved methods and procedures that produced significant benefit for USACE; contributed substantially to the reputation and honor of USACE; and performed loyally and faithfully throughout his or her period of service.

This year’s inductees were commended for their years of service and dedication and included Henry A. Dulaney, former Chief of the Engineering and Construction Division, Charles “Chuck” Mendrop, former Director of the Dam and Levee Safety Production Center, and Thomas P. Jones, former Operations Project Manager (OPM) at the Louisiana Field Office.

Dulaney proudly served for over forty years in the Vicksburg District and consistently made a significant impact upon the District and its people over that time. Serving in both technical and leadership roles, Dulaney was a key contributor in delivering the Red River Locks and Dams. He also played a critical role in the rehabilitation of the New Orleans District’s flood risk management infrastructure following Hurricane Katrina. From 2011 to his retirement in 2025, Dulaney served as the District’s second combined Engineering and Construction Chief, contributing heavily to all District projects over that time and serving a critical role in the historic flood of 2011. Beyond his technical accomplishments, Dulaney solidified his legacy as a mentor and an advocate for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), serving as a mentor for countless district personnel, and co-founding the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Engineering and Construction Camp to inspire and educate future generations in STEM fields. Rooted in Army values, his exceptional career left an enduring legacy of technical mastery, public safety, and devoted community service.

Over a distinguished 35-year civil service career, Mendrop demonstrated exceptional engineering acumen and pioneering leadership within the Vicksburg District. Rising from an intern in 1981 to a premier technical expert, he served as Lead Geotechnical Engineer for the Mississippi River Levees and Chief of the Analytical Section, overseeing all district geotechnical designs. As Geotechnical Branch Chief (2009–2012), his leadership proved vital during two historic challenges: delivering massive, high-speed levee designs for the post-Katrina Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) in Plaquemines Parish, and defending critical flood control infrastructure under unprecedented hydraulic stress during the record-breaking 2011 Mississippi River Flood. Mendrop’s most enduring legacy lies in national safety modernization. He broke new ground as the first Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) Levee Safety Program Manager before standing up the MVD Dam and Levee Safety Production Center as its inaugural Director. In this role, he spearheaded the monumental national mandate to assess levee risk nationwide, fundamentally advancing America’s water infrastructure safety while mentoring future generations.

Jones defined his exemplary 33-year career with the Vicksburg District through dedication, rising from a Forestry Technician in 1991 to OPM of the Louisiana Field Office (LFO). Beginning at Bayou Bodcau, his relentless work ethic quickly established him as a premier steward of its 36,000-acre footprint, culminating in his selection as Lead Forester in 2003. For 15 years, Jones managed critical safety operations for the Bodcau, Caddo, and Wallace Dams, personally leading high stakes dewaterings, heavy equipment repairs, and serving as a Sector Commander during the historic 2015 Red River flood fight. Promoted to OPM in 2018, his oversight expanded to include Bayou Pierre and vital recreation areas along the J. Bennett Johnston and Ouachita/Black Waterways. His legacy is anchored in his collaborative leadership and devotion to the LFO’s future. He coupled a hands-on, personable management style with active mentorship, hiring and developing a highly capable team of employees poised to carry the mission forward. His total commitment to national service, technical versatility, and peerless character made him an indispensable leader within the Vicksburg District.

Col. Jeremiah Gipson, Vicksburg District Commander, also recognized employees with five to 50 years of service to the federal government.

Nine employees were additionally recognized as they graduated from the Vicksburg District Leadership Program (VLDP). This program is a year-long undertaking that provides personnel with extracurricular assignments designed to acclimate them to future supervisory positions. The graduates included Dendy Davenport, Leah DeYoung, Jason Eaves, Ryan Etheridge, Mireille Fulgham, Jaeson Hall, Asher Kight, Frank Shelby, and Connor Watson.

Finally, the incoming Emerging Leader (EL) class of 2026 was announced and includes Leah DeYoung, Chase Gartrell, and Caleb McNair. This two-year program is designed to allow supervisory personnel with hands-on experience and mentoring from leadership members.

The Vicksburg District was founded Aug. 18, 1873, when Capt. William Henry Harrison Benyaurd opened a USACE office in Monroe, Louisiana. The first permanent Vicksburg office was established in 1884. Following the Great Flood of 1927 and subsequent Flood Control Act of 1928, the Vicksburg District created a comprehensive flood control program centered around the Mississippi River. The effort’s lasting effects include four Mississippi lakes and three Arkansas lakes created as flood control reservoirs, as well as numerous miles of Mississippi River mainline levees and other flood control structures. The Vicksburg District’s projects and personnel continue to serve the region, the nation, and the world. 

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.