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Black History Month

February 26, 2009
by Jerry Rogers
Norfolk District Public Affairs

From 1992-95, Col. Andrew M. Perkins Jr. commanded Norfolk District as the first African American commander in the district's 129-year history. Perkins, who grew up in Hampton Roads and experienced firsthand the debilitating effects of racial prejudice and institutional segregation, recalled never experiencing any prejudice from Norfolk District employees. Instead, said Perkins, the Norfolk District team struggled through perhaps the most tumultuous period in its history, endangered by a powerful outside force that threatened the district's existence.

During his tenure here, Perkins directed Norfolk District in accomplishment of military construction on various Army and Air Force installations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as a wide range of civil works projects of state and national importance.

This period was also fraught with uncertainty for the entire U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as a major Clinton administration initiative to reduce the federal budget sought to consolidate or redistribute USACE districts, Perkins said. "The professionalism and teamwork displayed by my fellow team members during that tumultuous period of stop and go was superb," said Perkins, who today is the assistant vice chancellor for facilities and engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C. "Their tenacious dedication to duty, in the face of mounting uncertainty, was exceptional. From the senior executive officers down to the staff at Craney Island, our people stuck together and remained innovative, focused and determined to perform their everyday duties."

Norfolk District survived the USACE reorganization. In fact, said Perkins, the district would proceed to double its mission and size. "Our people really stepped up to the plate; remarkably pivoting from an uncertain existence to adapting and performing our new and robust workload in an exceptional manner," said Perkins.

Beyond the projects executed during his command, Jim Thomasson, deputy district engineer for project management, also remembers the colonel's enthusiastic leadership in two community programs focused on bringing minorities into the engineering fields. "He encouraged the district to develop a relationship that still exists with Hampton University under the umbrella of the Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering (AMIE) organization," said Thomasson. "I fondly remember attending with Col. Perkins the 10th anniversary banquet for the Cooperating Hampton Roads Organizations for Minorities in Engineering, or CHROME. His leadership on the CHROME board of directors opened doors."

Recalling his most memorable moment here, Perkins said he was particularly proud of the Richmond, Va. Local Flood Damage Reduction Project, completed in 1994, noting that the $135 million project, (still) the largest civil works project in Norfolk District's history, came in "within cost and on time."

As a testament to that engineering achievement, Richmond City officials have repeatedly praised Norfolk District for the project's design and construction, as well as the hundreds of million dollars saved over the years in flood-damage cost avoidance.

After retiring, Perkins and family settled in Greensboro, though he says his home and heart will always be in Hampton Roads. "I tried to get on at Hampton University, but no jobs in my field were available," Perkins said. "I have no regrets. North Carolina A&T is a great Historically Black College and University, and here we have a unique opportunity to look into the future and determine a strategic, systematic approach to improve the quality of life for our students, staff and faculty."

Colonel Perkins' Army career.

A native of Hampton, Va., Col. Andrew M. Perkins Jr. retired from the U.S. Army in 1997, after serving 29 years. He is a 1967 architecture graduate of Hampton University and holds a Master of Science degree in architecture from the University of Wisconsin. Perkins is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advance courses, the Armed Forces Staff College, the National War College and a member of the Society of Military Engineers.

During his career, Perkins has served two overseas tours: a year in Vietnam as a company commander in 1969; and from 1979-81, in Saudi Arabia as the area engineer, where he directed a diversified engineering staff in administering construction contracts valued at $500 million.

Prior to joining the Norfolk District, Perkins served as assistant director of civil works, Pacific Region, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D.C. In that assignment, he acted on behalf of the director to ensure coordination between Congress, private citizens, special interest groups and other federal agencies. That buy-in from key stakeholders was the catalyst that led to successful development and maintenance of our nation's water and related environmental resources, and construction and operation projects for navigation, flood control and shore and beach restoration and protection throughout 18 states.

Perkins' notable military construction and civil works achievements include:

• VIP Villa complex for the King of Saudi Arabia
• 10 firing ranges and roadway projects for the Royal Saudi Army
• Sewage Treatment Plant and Wastewater Irrigation System for King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia
• San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf breakwaters
• Operation and maintenance dredging of 11 ports throughout Northern California, including San Francisco Bay
• Renovation, Kenner Army Community Hospital (later named McDonald), Fort Eustis, Va.
• Richmond, Va. Local Flood Damage Reduction Project, constructed in 1994