The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District’s annual ranger conference took place at the Bluegrass Army Depot, Armed Forces Training Center in Richmond, Kentucky, March 19-21.
This annual ranger conference gathers all Natural Resources Management staff, including managers and rangers from the district’s 17 lake projects. This event serves as a vital platform for personnel to fulfill mandatory annual training requirements, essential for maintaining citation authority and enhancing visitor assistance. Additionally, it provides a forum for a diverse range of presenters to deliver training sessions on regional and national programs relevant to Natural Resources Management.
Conducting these sessions in a group setting fosters collaboration among rangers, many of whom operate in remote areas without direct access to fellow professionals. For new employees, the conference offers an invaluable opportunity to connect with seasoned rangers, establishing a supportive network for navigating challenges throughout the year.
Operations Division Technical Support Branch Chief, Jessica Grinnell Lee, has now worked in the field and in the district office and understands the importance of this annual conference.
“I love knowing that all of our rangers are getting the same high-quality training and policy updates at one time,” Lee said. “It provides continuity and ensures everyone is following the same best practices. Even more importantly, the networking and discussions that come from this diverse group provides insight and guidance that can’t be done at the project or even area level. It’s great to see rangers share their experiences from different areas and states. We are very fortunate in the Louisville District that we get to conduct this conference annually as our upper leadership understand, promote and support this program.”