MOBILE, Ala. – The Mobile District welcomed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. Richard L. Stevens on his first visit to Mobile, Feb. 10.
Stevens’ visit afforded him the opportunity to do what he loves: thanking USACE employees for what they do each and every day. While visiting the district, Stevens participated in an awards ceremony at Lake Allatoona in Cartersville, Ga., and attended the district corporate board meeting and spoke with employees at a town hall meeting at the district headquarters in Mobile.
At Lake Allatoona, Stevens thanked park rangers for their service and awarded a Deputy Commander’s Coin to Linda Hartsfield, a supervisory park ranger, who is retiring after 41 years of service to the nation.
During the town hall, Stevens spoke with more than 60 district employees about emerging challenges for the USACE and informed them that they are uniquely positioned to find solutions.
“I have a great appreciation for what you do here in Mobile, not just civil and military construction, but work you’re doing day-in and day-out in the South Atlantic District,” he said.
Stevens emphasized how all of the District’s employees are important to the mission.
“It’s like a multi-span bridge,” he said. “Everyone does their part or the bridge collapses. The role we play at each level is important.”
Stevens emphasized the importance of employees maintaining a good work and life balance, what he referred to as the “happy-to-grumpy ratio”.
“You have to like the people with whom you work,” he explained. “You have to treat people with dignity and respect… and, you have to have a workplace that is free of discrimination. We are in the people business and each of you have a role in that.”
The meeting also provided him the opportunity to recognize a few more employees for their hard work by handing out more Deputy Commander’s Coins.
Stevens has served in his current position since September 2014. As the USACE Deputy Commander, he is responsible for policy and programming in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ project management, construction support and engineering missions executed around the world. Stevens graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1982. He has held a variety of command and staff positions including commanding USACE Pacific Ocean Division, and operational assignments in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.