Show Notes
In this special episode, we sit down with Mr. Edward Belk, Director of Civil Works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as he prepares to retire after 38 years of extraordinary service. From humble beginnings as a temporary GS-9 on a Mississippi River survey crew to leading the entire Civil Works Directorate, Mr. Belk shares the stories, challenges, and human connections that defined his career. Listen in as he reflects on: • The power of people in public service • Lessons learned from flood response and war zones • The future of water infrastructure in America • Why the Corps' mission matters more than ever • Encouragement for the next generation of leaders Whether you're a Corps insider, a federal employee, or simply curious about what goes on "inside the castle," this episode is a masterclass in leadership, humility, and service to country. Listen now and be inspired by one man’s journey through decades of dedication, challenges, and unforgettable river stories.
More from Inside the Castle
Dredging serves as the critical, often unseen foundation of global trade, national defense, and supply chain resilience. In this episode of Inside the Castle, hosts Reagan Lauritzen and Amy Snively sit down with Ms. Erica Janocha, Dredging Program Manager at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters, to discuss how USACE is modernizing the way it delivers the Nation’s dredging mission.
How does the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) decide what to build, where to build it, and how to reduce water resource risks to our local communities? It all starts with Civil Works Planning. In this episode of “Inside the Castle,” we sit down with three leaders who are fundamentally modernizing this process: Mr. Eric Bush (Chief of Planning and Policy, USACE Headquarters), Mr. Joe Redican (Deputy Chief of Planning and Policy, USACE HQ), and Ms. Susan Werning (Deputy Chief, Planning Community of Practice, USACE Headquarters).
On the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Inside the Castle pauses to honor the nearly 3,000 precious lives lost and the unimaginable courage of the first responders who ran toward the danger. In this solemn episode, podcast hosts Reagan Lauritzen and Amy Snively talk with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Historian Dr. John Lonnquest and USACE Curator Eric Reinert to reflect on USACE’s rapid mobilization and the sacred duty of preserving that history. The discussion covers the critical, behind-the-scenes engineering efforts at the Pentagon and Ground Zero—from structural triage and environmental remediation to the painstaking debris recovery mission.
In this episode of "Inside the Castle," we are joined by Mr. Ryan A. Fisher, Executive Deputy for Civil and Emergency Operations, for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Drawing from his extensive experience—from the district level all the way to the Administration—Mr. Fisher provides his perspective on modernizing the agency to deliver its national missions more effectively.
In this edition we talk with US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Florence Kessel with the Caribbean District. Florence has been with USACE for 10 years and has spent the last two years helping stand up the newly formed Caribbean District. In this episode we will discuss her path into USACE, he passion for the work she does, and what she has learned about USACE over the past year.