USACE Vicksburg District employee receives award from the Mississippi Paralegal Association

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District
Published Oct. 26, 2020

An employee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District received the 2020 Paralegal of the Year Award from the Mississippi Paralegal Association (MPA) in Jackson on Friday.

Vincent “Vince” Farrell was recognized by MPA for his “continuous example of professionalism and excellence in the legal community.” He serves as a paralegal specialist for the USACE Vicksburg District’s Office of Counsel and provides support for contract, environment labor and employment and litigation attorneys with a variety of specializations.

Since joining the district in 2018, Farrell has supported its vital investigations and litigations and has tracked over 500 contracting actions worth a combined total of over $500 million. Farrell also took the initiative to manage and coordinate the Office of Counsel’s administrative needs while simultaneously overhauling the law library and overseeing all training metrics for his colleagues.

In addition to his work as a paralegal, Farrell serves as an Alternate District Liaison Officer to the state of Mississippi on behalf of USACE during severe weather events. He also serves as a district Fire Protection Section Monitor and assumes responsibility for the accountability and safety during fire-related drills and emergencies for the Office of Counsel, the district’s Command Suite and the chiefs of the district’s Operations Division.

He credits his success and accomplishments to the support from his wife Ariel, their son Vincent and his parents Vincent and Briceland Farrell, as well as the numerous colleagues and educators he has known throughout his life.

In addition to his award, Farrell was elected to the association’s board of directors as the Central Region Director for 2021. He will serve as the voice of paralegals across 25 counties, establish and direct Continuing Legal Education (CLE) events, promote MPA membership within the region and formulate activities to strengthen the paralegal population and relationships within central Mississippi.

“We are extremely proud of Vincent’s achievement and his continued dedication to USACE,” said USACE Vicksburg District Head of the Office of Counsel David Dyer. “He has been invaluable in helping to achieve the district’s mission, and we are lucky to have his broad skill set and incredible work ethic.”

An alumnus of the U.S. Army’s Adjutant General School, Farrell has also earned certificates at Kansas State University, Boston University and an associate’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University. He is currently working toward his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security and Counterterrorism from Southern New Hampshire University. A decorated and honorably discharged veteran, Farrell previously served as a paralegal supervisor at Schofield Barracks in O’ahu, Hawai’i, and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. His service awards include two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal and an Army Service Ribbon.

MPA was founded in 1980 by Mississippi paralegals who aimed to encourage a higher order of ethical and professional attainment and promote the profession of paralegals statewide. The organization supports, encourages and maintains high standards for the service, conduct, and ethics of paralegals.

The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The USACE Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana that holds seven major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The USACE Vicksburg District is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel.

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Contact
Anna Owens
601-631-5818
anna.m.owens@usace.army.mil

Release no. 20-081