JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 3, 2021) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' South Atlantic Division senior enlisted adviser Command Sgt. Maj. Chad C. Blansett recently visited the Jacksonville District.
Blansett said he put emphasis on his visit to talk directly to Jacksonville District civilian employees from various jobs fields, discussed training, current working conditions, progress on area projects and future career highlights and goals.
“I am just overwhelmed with the goodness and energy I see here in the district,” said Blansett. “I’m glad to learn from the reports and reading briefings but now I have the opportunity to translate that and see the progress while having the opportunity to talk with employees and see the process that’s going on around the district,” said Blansett.
He met and visited Jacksonville Headquarters staff, employees at various district area offices.
“I enjoy the opportunity to sit down and talk to employees who do the work for the South Atlantic Division, for me to see the work firsthand and also see the results that have been made,” said Blansett.
One of his stops was with Corps employees at district warehouse facility. He talked with the Dale Traylor, chief of the field survey section, Survey and Mapping Branch, Operations Division and Brooke Hubbard, a civil engineer from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) team.
Traylor showed Blansett the facility. He described uses of the many boats, the history behind the buildings and equipment. After a quick walk through, Blansett met with most of the employees where he found many talkative about various topics ranging from the working environment, job training, the UAS program and how employees have adapted to working with new technology, various new jobs.
Hubbard, explained the UAV mission, showed Blansett the latest aircraft and imaging technology used as a platform for geospatial data collection. She explained how the UAV program uses an onboard global positioning system (GPS), inertial navigation system (INS), camera and computer and how the platform focuses on the rapid acquisition of high-resolution aerial surveys to support various Army Corps infrastructure and natural resource monitoring efforts in both land and aquatic environments.
“It was exciting to meet and show him what we do, how we do it and see the reaction on his face when I explained how we incorporate cutting-edge technology into the overall USACE mission,” said Hubbard.
Traylor and his team of field surveyors explained how the district provides survey and mapping services and the importance of its uses to the Army. Blansett presented coins to several members of the team.
“We have some amazing people in the district and I’m glad he stopped by to check and see how we are doing,” said Traylor.
“We have the best of the best working for the Corps and you’ve provided me with some great lessons in engineering technology today,” said Blansett.
"USACE is proud of the work you do and recognize the sacrifices that you do to keep major facilities running like this one,” said Blansett
Blansett said the Jacksonville District is doing great things and should be proud of the work being done, especially working during these unusual circumstances.
“The Corps is a great organization with a strong day-to-day mission that exceeds the normal engineering definition, but our employees prove this with their great work everyday," said Blansett.