Fedoroff selected for national tribal role
By John Barker, Mobile District, public affairs specialist
Michael Fedoroff has recently been selected for a developmental assignment as the new deputy to the director of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tribal Nations Technical Center of Expertise, or TNTCX, in Albuquerque, N.M. The virtual position will allow him to work from Mobile while assisting to manage the TNTCX’s tribal consultation support program for both military and civil works.
“I feel honored to be selected for this assignment,” said Fedoroff, who has been with Mobile District for his entire five-year Corps career. “The Corps' commitment to partnering with tribal nations is an important aspect of our mission, and I feel lucky to be a part of it.”
Fedoroff said he has been working virtually with the TNTCX for about two years, specifically on ancestral homeland issues important to tribes.
“In my new role, I want to assist the TNTCX with building the key infrastructure needed to make the center operations successful long term,” he said. “My experience working with tribal nations to develop programing should help me identify needs within our authorities.
“Additionally, the outreach component of my new role and my ability to work from Mobile District will allow me to amplify the Corps’ tribal partnerships east of the Mississippi River,” said Fedoroff. “This is an important aspect of the job as tribal nations may be geographically removed from this area, however, they still have a vested interest in their ancestral homelands. The Corps possesses large land holdings in these areas, and we also have stewardship responsibilities for both natural and cultural resources important to tribes. The TNTCX will help provide expertise and guidance in this arena.”
Lisa Morales, the Corps’ senior tribal liaison, said she has worked with Fedoroff on several projects and programs over the years and is excited for him to join the TNTCX team.
“Michael is an enthusiastic advocate for the Army, the Corps of Engineers, and the TNTCX,” she said. “He will be working with Dr. (Ronald) Kneebone, TNTCX director, to lead the organization forward as we seek to build new relationships with tribal nations and work with our Corps’ commands to provide our technical services across the enterprise.”
In addition to district tribal liaison, Fedoroff has served as the district’s senior Inland Environmental Compliance manager. As such, his responsibilities included conducting tribal consultations involving cultural resource research design and historic properties management.
Fedoroff’s project experience includes inland and coastal works associated with shallow- and deep-draft operations and navigation projects, general land use investigations, looting investigations, POW/MIA recovery work, Continuing Authorities Programs, and various military projects. His field experience includes work in the Southeastern United States, Central America, and Southeast Asia. He has also served as the Mobile District Native American Program manager for the Special Emphasis Leadership Forum.