Childhood work ethic key to district employee's success

Posted July 20, 2010
By David Kidd and Pamela Spaugy
Norfolk District Public Affairs

07/20/2010 - NORFOLK — It's 4 a.m. While most people are still asleep, 13-year-old Mark Mansfield is sitting on his front porch folding newspapers for his daily newspaper route in Chesapeake, Va. That was more than 40 years ago, but it laid the foundation for the strong work ethic he has today. Other jobs like mixing mortar for a tile layer and installing insulation for an air conditioning company during the hot summer months also taught him that honesty, hard work and believing in yourself pays off in the long-run.

And it has.

Today, the 6-foot-1 Chesapeake, Va. native works at the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has been with the Corps for 29 years and has been the chief of planning and policy since March 2001. Prior to working for the Corps, he worked for the Department of Labor as a regional economist in Washington.

First impressions may be a bit intimidating due to his serious approach, but he is quick to make you feel comfortable. He has a natural talent of elaborating, painting the picture, sort-of- speak, so a person understands. Mansfield contributes his success to the high standards he sets for himself.

What may appear as a lifetime ago is a vivid memory to Mansfield as he describes growing up and working hard to earn a dollar. It's as if he was telling a story about something that happened moments ago. That's what you can expect when you meet him, work with him. He is someone who takes the time to show you how a process works. He does not cut corners and if it takes two hours instead of 30 minutes, expect to spend two hours learning how to do it right.

I guess if you had to describe Mansfield in one sentence, it would be: He is articulate, a perfectionist as well as passionate about his family and the people he works with at the Corps.

"Mark has always been a team-oriented person," said Bob Oswald, Norfolk District attorney. "He will go the extra mile to provide the right answer for our customers, stakeholders and coworkers. He is also really good at making himself available if you need to contact him. We have worked with each other on many projects over the past two decades."

His commitment to the Corps surpass the regular 40-hour week. Dedicating much of his time to the civil works program, Mansfield is constantly on the road meeting with Corps' partners, customers, and stakeholders, focusing on customer service and building relationships.

Taking on the role of the district's congressional liaison, Mansfield ensures there is one voice communicating the district's capabilities to Congress. As chief of the programs and planning branch, he is responsible for a long list of mission areas, including all civil works projects that fall under the navigation, flood risk management and environmental restoration business line.

"The jobs I had as a young man taught me quickly that pursuing a college education is what I needed to reach my full potential," Mansfield said. About 20 percent of Mansfield's graduating class attended college; the rest went on to blue collar trades, such as employment at local shipyards in Hampton Roads or working for Dominion Power.

The 1973 graduate of Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Mansfield earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Old Dominion University in 1977. He went on to earn his certificate of Professional Financial Planning from ODU in 1985. He also attended the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hampton Roads course in 1989, which is a professional developmental course focusing on water resource issues in Hampton Roads.

"The course gave me the opportunity to see the challenges of water resource management from the military, city, county and elected leader's perspective," Mansfield said.

Mansfield is known for being personal with his colleagues, sharing stories about his family and making it an effort to learn about theirs. This attribute gives him the ability to build strong relationships, which goes a long way in civil works projects.

"He is one of the hardest working individuals I have known," said Tom Lochen, supervisory oceanographer. "He is extremely dedicated to mission execution, to our customers and to our district."

Mansfield opted to join the Corps team in Norfolk because of the water resource work. His interest with water traces back to his childhood when he was an active surfer. Although he does not surf anymore, he still enjoys the water, whether it is boating, walking the shoreline that overlooks the Norfolk harbor, or spending the weekend at his beach house in North Carolina.

"The water has a special place in my heart, so much that my favorite food has always been seafood," Mansfield admits. His passion for water has had a direct influence on his career path as well. The Corps' current oyster restoration projects in the Lynnhaven and Great Wicomico Rivers is dear to Mansfield's heart. He was the project manager of the non-native oyster Environmental Impact Statement project.

Being a team player, Mansfield would like the oyster restoration project to be a collaborative effort, bringing together experts from the Baltimore and Norfolk Districts, and other federal, state and regional agencies. "I believe each member of the team can offer a different expertise to the project," he said.

Oysters are essential to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The reefs act as a hard substrate providing a habitat for all species and filtration for the bay.

"Mark and I completed the Environmental Impact Statement together, our relationship with the Norfolk District continues to grow, sharing information and coordinating efforts," said Tom O'Connell, Maryland's director of department of natural resources fisheries services. "He is a great listener who ensures every viewpoint is heard."

Aside from his passion for water, he also enjoys woodworking, using hand tools, a trade he picked up from his father. The meticulous nature of this craft and the amount of patience needed exemplifies Mansfield's approach to work.

"It's kind of relaxing and I get instant gratification when I am working on home projects," Mansfield said. He often compares woodworking to the meticulous planning process of a multi-million dollar civil works project that may take years to complete based on the complexity, scope and funding availability.

"I was fortunate enough to have really good mentors who taught me so much when I was getting started at the Corps. The road traveled to reach that place, where you are truly happy in life -- what you are doing both personally and professionally -- may take time, but once you are there it is rewarding … very self-rewarding," Mansfield said.