JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb 24, 2022) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' senior enlisted adviser Command Sgt. Maj. Patrickson Toussaint visited the Jacksonville District February 16-17, 2022.
The 14th Command Sergeant Major met and talked with the Jacksonville District Corporate Board, aspiring leaders from the Regional and District Leadership Development program, various Jacksonville staff at headquarters and at the South Florida Operations office where he collectively shared the Chief of Engineers vision of people, readiness, partnership and revolutionizing USACE.
“I am glad to be here because I love talking to individuals who do the work, and trips like this afford me the opportunity to see the work you do,” said Toussaint during a stop at the Jacksonville district headquarters.
Col. James Booth, Jacksonville District Commander provided opening remarks and welcomed Toussaint to the district before Toussaint before he addressed students from the Leadership Development programs.
“I really appreciate his insight and his efforts to support the workforce and helping us see ourselves. The employees loved talking with CSM Toussaint, he is truly an asset for the workforce and the enterprise,” said Booth.
Toussaint specifically addressed 45 leaders and aspiring from both the South Atlantic District Leadership Development Program III and Jacksonville District’s Leadership Development Program II classes.
He shared the Chief of Engineers vision of people, readiness, partnership and revolutionizing USACE The groups combined so Toussaint could consolidate time and address them together.
“Everyone is doing a great job here in Jacksonville and should be proud,” said Toussaint.
He visited Jacksonville Headquarters to met and greeted Corps personnel in the downtown Prudential building, and there he found many talkative about various topics ranging from telework, the importance of their jobs, job training and to adapting to various new jobs.
“I loved the time our team spent with CSM Toussaint and I could see that everyone was engaged,” said Roberta Cotton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Training and LDP Coordinator. “I was very impressed by the information and knowledge he provided us and we appreciate him taking the time to talk and answer questions.”
Toussaint said he put emphasis on his visit to conversate directly with USACE civilian employees from many projects at the district on many changes, working conditions and highlights. Command Sgt. Maj. Toussaint is appointed to serve as a spokesman for Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, 55th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address the issues of all military and civilian personnel.
Toussaint traveled to the South Florida Area Operations office, greeted personnel and visited current projects at the Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD), and the St. Lucie Lock and Dam projects. Lt. Col. Todd Polk, Jacksonville Deputy District Engineer briefed him on the rehabilitation progress and construction as he observed the on-going construction efforts to rehabilitate the HHD and reviewed the dewatered St. Lucie lock and ongoing lock repairs.
Toussaint met with staff, took an airboat tour of Lake Okeechobee, and presented several coins to members of the South Florida Operations office team.
"USACE is proud of the work you do and recognize the sacrifices that you do to keep major facilities running like this one,” said Toussaint. The Corps has nine divisions with 44 districts worldwide committed to creating sustainable projects that are environmentally friendly, cost effective and beneficial to all customers every day," said Toussaint to the group.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District on the district’s website at www.saj.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JaxStrong.