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Jun 10, 2016

Understanding the Corps planning process for hurricane and flood risks

The latest issue of Municipal Water Leader features an article on hurricane and flood planning by D&A’s Ed Dickey. Congrats to our colleague Ed Dickey, who has an important article in the new issue of Municipal Water Leader on the Army Corps of Engineers’ hurricane and flood planning processes. During Ed’s long career with the Corps, he served in several capacities including Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Works. He also was Chief of the P

Jun 3, 2016

Dawson welcomes Jimm Rich

Jimm Rich, PhD Dawson & Associates is delighted to announce that Jimm Rich, who was Chief of Contracting for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Baltimore, Kansas City and Galveston districts, has joined our firm as a senior advisor. Jimm brings more than 35 years of Federal contracting and acquisition experience to Dawson. This includes serving as Chief of the Contracting IPT for the Pentagon’s $3 billion renovation, construction and IT upgrade program from 1999 to 2000. In 20

Mar 16, 2016

Port dredging & the Army Corps of Engineers: 5 ways to expedite your approval

D&A colleagues offer recommendations for expediting Corps approvals of port and channel dredging. Port and channel dredging requires approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. But approvals are often delayed due to lack of planning for material disposal. Writing in the spring 2016 Seaports, published by the American Association of Port Authorities, our colleagues Brig. Gen. (Ret) Rick Capka, Linda Morrison and Elizabeth Fagot offer 5 recommendations for expediting Corps appr

Mar 9, 2016

“The supply shock… may be unprecedented”

D&A Senior Advisor Jim Durkay The Poe Lock on the St. Mary’s River is an engineering masterpiece. It’s also one of the most crucial links in the country’s iron ore supply chain, according to a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security. This report is the subject of a recent profile on Michigan Live, which specializes in news from around the state. Reporter Garret Ellison looked at the Poe Lock’s role in manufacturing and interstate commerce, noting that the Poe

Jan 5, 2016

Scott Cameron takes Water Conservation District oath

D&A Senior Advisor Scott Cameron Congratulations to our colleague Scott Cameron, who recently took the oath of office as Director of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD). This is an elective office and Scott received nearly 91,000 votes in last month’s election. This was his first attempt at elective office. Scott joined our firm three years ago, after more than 20 years of government service at the federal and state levels. The NVSWCD’s mission

Nov 20, 2015

The future of federal water policy

Policies affecting water and environmental permitting will change in the coming years. Despite Federal water policy currently being in a state of legal limbo (for more, see here), it seems a near certainty that policies affecting water and environmental permitting will change in the coming years. Our colleague Don Riley addressed this issue in speeches at Harvard Law School and MIT. An excerpt: Let’s talk about Federal water policy and answer the question “Why is the Army in

Nov 9, 2015

Congrats, Scott Cameron

On Election Night 2015, our colleague Scott Cameron became an elected official. Scott became one of the three elected members of the Board of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD), garnering more votes than any other Republican candidate running for county-wide office. Conservation Districts are non-regulatory agencies that work with private landowners to improve water quality and soil conservation practices on private lands. The NVSWCD serves th

Oct 6, 2015

Helping the next generation of engineers

Col. (Ret) Bud Griffis with scholarship winners Judith Zhao and Robert Hume at the 2014 Society of American Military Engineers NYC Dinner The great historian and Librarian of Congress Daniel Boorstin once wrote, “Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.” Kudos to our colleague, Col. (Ret) Bud Griffis, for his efforts as President of the Society of American Military Engineers’ New York City Post Scholarship Fund. Next month, the Post hosts its 75th anni

Sep 28, 2015

Adm. (Ret) Sam DeBow selected for Marine Board

Adm. (Ret) Sam DeBow We’re delighted to announce that our colleague Sam De Bow, Jr., who joined us in 2011 after a career that included service as Rear Admiral at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has been selected to The Marine Board. Formed in 1965, the Marine Board is a select group of about 20 recognized experts in engineering, coastal development, and Federal marine and water policies. The Marine Board is part of the Transportation Research Boar

Aug 14, 2015

Environmental attorney, fmr. Justice Dept litigator joins Dawson

Larry Liebesman, a nationally recognized environmental lawyer specializing in federal Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is now on the Dawson team. Larry joins several other attorneys, including Les Edelman, Liz Fagot and Len Miller. Larry has extensive experience negotiating federal and state environmental approvals , including Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act permits for commercial, residential, public works a

May 14, 2015

Dawson welcomes Fred Anthamatten

Fred Anthamatten Fred Anthamatten, who spent more than 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District has joined Dawson & Associates as a Senior Advisor. During his career in the Corps of Engineers’ Galveston District, Fred served seven years as head of the Regulatory Branch and 13 years as head of the Enforcement Section. During this time, he was instrumental in developing and implementing program policies and changes in program regulations. Fred was one

Apr 1, 2015

Deflation and the dismal science

Dr. Ed Dickey As the great baseball player Yogi Berra once observed, It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. But for our distinguished colleague, Dr. Ed Dickey, economic predictions are a staple of his professional career. About 18 months ago, Bloomberg cited Ed’s insights in an article suggesting that deflation would not necessarily interfere with our nation’s economic growth. Fast forward to today and with the drop in energy prices, inflation has al

Mar 6, 2015

Lt. Col. (Ret) Craig Crotteau joins Dawson

D&A welcomes Senior Advisor Craig Crotteau to the firm. Dawson & Associates is honored to welcome Craig Crotteau, an expert in federal authorizations and appropriations, to our firm. Craig will help our clients with defense, engineering and construction, civil works, and government procurement issues. A retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a Professional Engineer, Craig led combat engineer units in Europe and crafted Army budgets in the Pentagon.

Dec 19, 2014

Happy Birthday, Mr. Regula

Happy birthday to Senior Advisor Ralph Regula This holiday season brought a special tribute for one of our valued colleagues. Our Senior Counselor Ralph Regula, who represented Ohio in the U.S. House for 36 years, was feted at a special 90th birthday party on Capitol Hill. House Speaker John Boehner and Ohio Senator Rob Portman both offered wonderful tributes to Mr. Regula. Among his many successes, Ralph served as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Inte

Dec 5, 2014

Understanding structured settlements

Senior Advisor Peter Arnold Encouraged by the federal tax code for more than 30 years, structured settlements are a voluntary option for accident survivors to protect their long-term financial security. This week, syndicated columnist Dennis Beaver, who writes a column titled “You & the Law,” explained structured settlements and quoted at length our senior advisor Peter Arnold: “Start giving in, and Ben moves from target to financial victim,” according to Peter Arnold, a lon

Oct 26, 2014

Joe Tyler, Presidential Rank Award winner who led successful reforms in Corps of Engineers, joins Da

Dawson & Associates welcomes Senior Advisor Joe Tyler. Dawson & Associates is honored to welcome Joe Tyler, formerly the highest-ranking civilian (SES-2) in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Military Mission Area, to our firm. A recipient of the U.S. Army’s highest civilian award and the Presidential Rank Award, Joe’s experience includes the Corps’ military, civil works and foreign military sales programs. As USACE Deputy and Director Military Programs from 2006 thru 2009, Joe

Sep 25, 2014

Pride Can Inspire

Captain Hank Hatch, teaching West Point plebes, c. 1966. The great Henry Ford once said, “You can take my factories, burn up my buildings, but give me my people and I’ll build the business right back again.” At Dawson & Associates, that’s how we feel about our team and it’s especially gratifying when others feel that way too. Recently, the Society of American Military Engineers unveiled a video featuring Lt. Gen. (Ret) Hank Hatch, who joined us in 2012. In addition to serving

Sep 4, 2014

An Iris by any other name…

As beautiful as the following photograph is, it still doesn’t do justice to the original artwork: A watercolor of an iris by D&A Senior Advisor Lt. Gen. (Ret) Art Williams Last month, this watercolor of a single purple Iris took first place at the Rockbridge County Art Association’s annual art show in Lexington, VA. Equally important for us, the artist who painted it is our colleague Lt. Gen. (Ret) Art Williams. Art joined our company in 1998, having served as both Commanding

Aug 11, 2014

A few swings for wounded warriors

Cong. Martin Lancaster with Dan Hernandez (L) and Vincent Moore (R). Despite losing a leg in Afghanistan, Dan won the tournament’s long-drive competition. No matter how many times you see the indomitable spirit of American soldiers, it’s still a heartening experience. On July 28, Dawson & Associates was honored to lend its support to a great cause. We were part of a golf tournament sponsored by the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress to benefit wounded warriors. M

Aug 4, 2014

Tribute to military engineering

A tip of the hat goes to Col. (Ret) John Mugge and the team at the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) for this excellent new video featuring our colleague Lt. Gen. (Ret) Hank Hatch, P.E., F.SAME. A former President of SAME, Hank joined our team in 2012 after a remarkable career in the U.S. Army that culminated in being appointed Chief Engineer and Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers. In the video, Hank recalls his time in the Army Corps of Engineers and a