EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Ben DeRoo- Operations Project Manager; Tri-Lakes
“Back in 2009, I was in college, going to St. Ambrose in Davenport, and there was a flyer about summer seasonal work as a park ranger,” DeRoo said. “So, I made a phone call and started working in Muscatine as a summer hire. I didn’t know what the Corps of Engineers was or what they did, but after I graduated, I was able to transition to a full-time position in the Thompson Ranger Office.”
Seeing a new opportunity on the horizon, DeRoo moved to resource management as a budget analyst.
“It was an interesting opportunity to diversify and learn something completely outside my normal comfort zone. It opened my eyes a lot to the diversity of the work USACE does.”
After five years, DeRoo moved into project management.
“I moved into project management working in O&M [Operations and Maintenance]as a project and program manager, where I did all the non-routine projects for the lakes,” he said. “I also supported work along the Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway. A big chunk of my workload was the non-routine projects that were getting completed, like repairs, new offices, facilities, improvements and work at the reservoirs,” DeRoo explained.
Together, these experiences have set DeRoo up for success in his new role.
Encompassing the oversight of three flood-control reservoirs in Iowa: Coralville Lake, Lake Red Rock, and Saylorville Lake, DeRoo needs to know the ins and outs for each location to the macro level.
“We have three business lines at each project: flood risk management, environmental stewardship and recreation. In Saylorville, we also have water supply. It’s really about taking care of our infrastructure and managing the reservoir at appropriate levels.”
According to DeRoo, this all comes down to asking direct questions and staying on top of preventive maintenance.
“Do we have our recreation and public day-use areas open? For environmental stewardship, what are we doing for our land management practices? Are we conducting timber stand improvement, maintaining food plots and prairies that we take care of and mow? We have about 70 land management areas across the three reservoirs,” DeRoo said.
Performing his job with pride, DeRoo keeps the priorities on target.
“This is where people who come to recreate spend their time, whether it be boating, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. So, we take great pride in making sure those areas and opportunities stay open and the land accessible without having to cut or reduce our services to the public.”
To those looking to take the next step or start with USACE, DeRoo had some advice.
“Go into new opportunities with an open mind. Listen to who you’re going to be working with, whether it be supervisors or employees. Try to understand what their challenges are, but also sit back and observe to see what the challenges dictate on a day-to-day basis.”
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