The Southwestern Division congratulates Little Rock District contracting officer Marcus Mitchell on his selection as the SWD Hero of the Month. Mitchell who works in the Little Rock District’s Military Branch was also selected as a Hero of the Week at the District.

As the district prepares to implement Beaver Dam Interim Risk Reduction Measures in January 2022, several public workshops will be held in quick succession across the White River Basin for the purpose of informing stakeholders about “why” temporary changes to the water control plan are needed and expected impacts to stakeholders.

Due to an already heavy workload, District Project Management and the Engineering and Construction Hydraulics Branch looked to obtain the services of a highly qualified architectural and engineering firm to efficiently conduct face-to-face public meetings in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.

Mitchell worked closely with Project Management to use a regional service contract to evaluate and obtain the services of a highly qualified contractor. His hard work and independent research resulted in the selection of an AE firm with first-hand knowledge of the White River Water Control Plan; District issues and challenges facing and concerning the White River Basin; first-hand working relationships with local partners and stakeholders that reside along Beaver Lake and the White River main stem and tributaries; the ability to collect critical information from the public, and to disseminate USACE water control policies and procedures through a detailed and user-friendly website accessible to the public.

With very little time available for this unscheduled effort, Mitchells’ skills and professionalism resulted in an awarded task order to a highly qualified AE contractor. The task order is a force multiplier and is of great value to the government and the region both from a cost and quality product perspective.