Dustin Gautney, a retired US Army Public Affairs Specialist, joined the US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District in 2018 as a first-time federal employee, stepping into an understaffed and outdated public affairs office. Leveraging his extensive experience, he quickly modernized operations by launching the district's first social media presence and spearheading proactive communication efforts.
After a brief tenure with the US Navy, where he played a key role in crisis communications, Gautney returned to the Mobile District in 2020 and was promoted to Chief of Public Affairs in 2021. In this role, he implemented significant improvements, including establishing dedicated web and graphic design positions, restoring essential staffing, renovating the office, and expanding capabilities into a fully functioning media operations center. Under his leadership, the team grew from 3 to 11 staff members, setting a benchmark for modernizing public affairs across USACE.
Gautney's innovative approach has earned him a leadership role overseeing the new district headquarters project. In 2023, he was named the USACE Public Affairs Officer of the Year, and he led the Public Affairs office to be recognized as the USACE Public Affairs Team of the Year in 2024.