NORFOLK, Va. – U.S. Army Installation Management Command awarded the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with the 2012 Director of Public Works Installation Support Program of the Year.
Fort Lee nominated Norfolk District for the IMCOM award, which recognizes “exceptional Real Property Maintenance Activity and construction support to Army Installations by USACE activities.”
The nomination package was based on more than $166 million in recent contract awards and ongoing construction projects at the garrison, which included housing, training areas, administrative facilities and dining facilities.
The nomination noted Norfolk District’s “team approach in delighting the ultimate customer – the soldier.”
The district’s work was a cradle-to-grave effort for each project, from design to contract award and construction management, each of which featured their own “unique requirements and challenges.”
When special expertise was needed, the Norfolk District reached out to the specific proficiency of sister districts to save on cost. Project delivery teams integrated energy-savings concepts in the construction packages, and hosted design charrettes that allowed the customer – Fort Lee – to discuss specific requirements for any given facility.
According to the nomination, the measures Norfolk District took created an “atmosphere of team unity in the design development.”
Gregory Williams, Fort Lee’s director of public works, said in 20 years of working with the government and several other Corps districts, he hasn’t seen a working relationship like that between Fort Lee and the Norfolk District.
“I see Norfolk District as an extension of Fort Lee’s DPW staff and as part of our Fort Lee family,” he said. “They’re doing the best for the U.S. Army soldiers, family members and civilians.”
Norfolk District’s work with the Fort Lee helped the garrison, which is the third largest training site in the Army, continue $2 billion in upgrades to facilities and infrastructure.
“Given this installation’s sustainment mission, it truly can be seen as the heart of our army,” said Col. Paul Olsen, Norfolk District commander. “It is a pleasure and honor to serve as their U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district of choice.”
Fort Lee’s is designated as the Army Sustainment Center of Excellence – a focused training base for military supply, subsistence, maintenance, munitions, transportation and more. As a result, each year, as many as 70,000 troops pass through Fort Lee’s classrooms. The garrison’s average daily population is 34,000, which includes military members, their families, government civilians and contractors.