With the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Memphis District hosting the most recent DPM Forum meeting, Deputy District Engineers for Programs and Project Management (DPMs) enterprise-wide traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, where they gathered for their first semi-annual meeting of the year, which started April 30 and ended May 2.
"The DPM Forum provides a venue for all district senior civilians to share valued lessons learned, identify and discuss the challenges we face, and influence policy and processes charting the future of the Programs and Project Management community of practice," said Stacey Hirata, DPM Forum Senior Executive Leader and USACE/HQ Military Programs Director for the Programs Integration Division.
The forum’s primary responsibilities are to influence and inform policy and to provide senior leadership with recommendations and actions for improvement for implementing enterprise wide.
The DPM Forum was established in 2015 after USACE Senior Leaders recognized the need for a senior leader body to act as voice for the workforce. It was also crucial that this body have a level of continuity and a real-time field perspective at the district level.
With these conditions in mind, it was decided that the USACE deputy district engineers were the best representatives of the workforce population.
The forum has achieved many great milestones since its inception, some of which include hail and farewell ceremonies for incoming and outgoing DPMs, the creation of a TEAMS site to facilitate regular communication and collaboration, and the establishment of an online meeting space called "Happy Hour" for networking, sharing best practices, and elevating problems and solutions within their community of practice.
With online collaboration site like TEAMS ensuring year-round engagement, the DPM Forum supplements virtual productivity with semi-annual, face-to-face meetings where they work to tackle the past year's challenges and develop strategies that best move the organization forward.
"It's both refreshing and encouraging to witness our district senior civilians working cohesively for the entire workforce to improve upon USACE programs and project outcomes," said Tab Brown, USACE/HQ Civil Works Director of the Programs Integration Division and DPM Forum Senior Executive Leader. "Senior leaders and their staff at the districts are generating a lot of solutions for implementing, while also keeping the interests of the enterprise in mind."
The DPM Forum also serves to further collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning among USACE deputy district engineers.
"I'm grateful for the entire Memphis team, they were phenomenal hosts for our DPM Forum," Honolulu District DPM Jennifer Moore said. "The impact this forum is capable of making is tremendous and I leave every engagement with inspiration and better strategy for my own district; fully understanding how we must work together as an enterprise."
DPM Forum meetings provide leaders with valuable insight and networking opportunities. Also important, meetings leave DPMs reenergized and ready to take on challenges within their districts.
"This was my first DPM Forum, and I am already looking forward to being invited to the next one," said Los Angeles District Deputy DPM Bradley Carter. "Every minute was worth my time, between connecting with other enterprise leaders, learning ways they approach and solve problems, and obtaining shared ideas and information that we will use with PPMD in the Los Angeles District."
Forum meetings remain on target with all actions connected to one of the DPM Forum "Top 6" Priority Areas: Recruitment and Retention, Workload/Workforce (WLWF), Affordability, Automated Information Systems (AIS), PDBP/Project Delivery, and Just Stop, i.e., things to discontinue.
"Each action is linked to a corresponding line of effort in the USACE Campaign plan, with all or most items viewed as 'above the line,'" Memphis District DPM Donny Davidson said. "These are now codified into our Charter, a living document."
Stemming from the PDBP priority, the forum is developing Enterprise Cohort Training to enhance project delivery with training that targets the project delivery team, leadership, and corporate board levels.
“It will better utilize and refocus on the PDBP and the RBC concepts, at all levels and disciplines, and ultimately forge USACE into an organization focused on winning through teamwork in program and project execution,” Davidson added.
More than training, it is also a forward-thinking approach to developing USACE professionals. The training works to grow the enterprise at all levels and pave the way to one united team and organization, united by one clear vision inspiring excellence.
"Through collective engagement, we’ve committed to advancing an initiative that will develop our future workforce by leveraging cohort-based training of novice, journeyman, and senior staff in the fundamentals of our business," Seattle District DPM Ginny Dierich said of the initiative.
On the third day of the Memphis forum, deputy district engineers departed with new best practices that will serve to benefit both immediately and as a source of inspiration and guidance for years to come.
“As we execute a historic program across USACE, the DPM Forum was an opportunity for DPMs from across the enterprise to come together for mentoring and networking, to share lessons learned, and discuss common delivery challenges with our HQ CoP Leaders,” New England DPM Scott Acone said. “While each USACE District is unique, DPMs all encounter similar obstacles as we safely deliver our civil works, military, and support-for-others projects for the Nation. Many thanks to the Memphis Team for hosting this important capacity-building event.”
Furthermore, deputy district engineers spent much time working together on various projects and initiatives, participating in team-building exercises, and gathering after meetings to socialize and build relationships.
As a result, deputy district engineers left the forum with a newfound sense of unity and focus, ready to tackle challenges on behalf of the USACE workforce.
“For me, it was reminder of our shared commitment as district leaders as well as the strength that comes from unity across geographic boundaries,” said Huntington District Deputy DPM Lisa Morgan. “It was clear this forum had a focus on taking care of our people who take care of our mission. Regardless of roles and responsibilities, this group wanted to highlight to our leaders the things that need to happen to ensure our legacy is sustained for the future and we can continue to provide real and lasting benefits to the public. It was a privilege to be part of this endeavor.”
The Memphis District Team congratulates the USACE DPM Forum on another winning meeting and thanks each senior leader for their commitment to this project delivery organization, its people, and its future.
On the final day of the Memphis District-hosted DPM Forum, DPM Forum Co-Chair Memphis District DPM Donny Davidson said his official farewell and is scheduled to host a ceremonial “Passing of the Mics” on May 30 for the three incoming co-chairs and secretary.
Davidson is proud of all this DPM Forum has accomplished, as well as the leaders who worked diligently to achieve the numerous milestones it has. To show his appreciation, Davidson had the following departing words for his colleagues:
"This is truly a cadre of district senior civilians who are taking care of business on behalf of the enterprise and the future of 40 thousand USACE civilians and military leaders," Davidson said. “I am humbled to have served in this role of Co-Chair for the last two years and hope I've left it better than I found it. The trajectory of the forum will continue to improve exponentially with the next group of DPM Forum leaders."
The district thanks and congratulates Memphis District DPM Donny Davidson for his service as DPM Forum Co-Chair. Your hard work and dedication, both as DPM and DPM Forum Co-Chair, are nothing short of inspiring. Your service did much to contribute to the massive success the DPM Forum is today. For this and more, we thank you, we applaud you, and we appreciate you.
The DPMs will continue virtual meetings twice a month until the next DPM Forum scheduled for this fall.