USACE Program Manager Receives Partnership Award

Published March 20, 2017
On Feb. 21, 2017, Heather Burke, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) National Partnership Program Manager, received the Public Lands Alliance (PLA) Agency Leadership Award at PLA's annual conference in Arlington, Va. This award recognizes a federal or state public land management agency employee for outstanding accomplishments in championing, cultivating and leading a partnership.

"Heather's award acknowledged the Alliance's recognition of her exceptional efforts to build, expand, and sustain the USACE Partnership program," said Mary Coulombe, Chief of USACE Natural Resources Management and Burke's supervisor. "She has provided leadership, advocacy and passion for connecting partners with the Corps to leverage human and financial resources to support the Corps’ natural resources and recreation programs."

“The quality of this year’s nominees was truly outstanding and demonstrates how partnerships and a passion for public lands can make incredible things happen,” said Dan Puskar, PLA Executive Director. “Our panel of judges and Board of Directors did not have an easy task in determining who would receive recognition this year.”

PLA is a nonprofit alliance of more than 120 member organizations nationwide that serve more than 500 public lands and contribute over $150 million dollars annually to the preservation and visitor enhancement of public lands.

“Heather also provides leadership to the USACE Partnership Advisory Committee, which is composed of leaders from each division,” added Coulombe. “Without the efforts of this committee, the Corps’ partnership program would not have achieved the success it has over the years.”

In fiscal year 2016, the USACE partnership program had achieved a total of 1,393 partnerships and additional 279 co-partnerships.

Release no. 17-003