Speakers
Walter Baumy, Jr, PE
Mr. Baumy became the New Orleans District Chief, Engineering Division in 2003. He is responsible for the engineering study, planning and design of civil works and support-for-other's missions within the New Orleans District. He serves as the principal engineering advisor to the District Commander. The Engineering Division has 300 employees consisting of engineers, technicians, geologists, a chemist, administrative staff and field personnel performing water control functions, surveying and soil exploration.
From September 2005 - June 2006, he served as deputy program manager, Task Force Guardian. His responsibilities included planning and designing immediate repairs on more than 220 miles of Hurricane Katrina-damaged levees in southeastern Louisiana. His leadership in this capacity was recognized in his award of the Wheeler Medal for outstanding contributions to military engineering by a civilian or uniformed member of the Army.
Mr. Baumy has served the New Orleans District over thirty years in a variety of positions. He first joined the Corps in 1974 as a student worker in the Geotechnical Branch. He worked in the Structural Design Section for seventeen years, five years as Chief, General and Environmental Design Section and two and one-half years as Chief, Civil Branch. Noteworthy projects include design and preparation of plans and specifications for Red River Lock & Dam No. 1, Old River Auxiliary Control Structure and the Corps of Engineers Dredge Kennedy exhibit included in the 1984 World's Fair. Mr. Baumy has participated on several HQS committees to prepare Engineering Manual (EM) 1110-2-2906, Design and Installation of Pile Foundations; EM 1110-2-2504, Strength Design Criteria for Reinforced Concrete Hydraulic Structures; EM 1110-2-2504, Design of Sheetpile Walls and prepared the Civil Works Guide Specification "Manufacture and Installation of Pre-stressed Concrete Piles".
Mr. Baumy graduated in 1976 from the University of New Orleans with a bachelors of science degree in Civil Engineering. He earned a masters degree in Civil Engineering from Tulane University in 1981 and is a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of Louisiana.
He is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), American Society of Civil Engineers and sponsored the University of New Orleans' Student Chapter into ASCE. He a member of the SAME Board of Directors, the Louisiana Spatial Reference Center's Steering Committee, a founding member of the New Orleans District's Leadership Development Program and a former member of MVD's Regional Management Board.
"New Orleans Levees: The Army Corps of Engineers' Reconstruction of the Hurricane Protection System"
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in south Louisiana on August 29, 2005, resulting in a massive storm surge, catastrophic property damage, loss of life and devastation of the hurricane protection system. Over 220 miles of levees and floodwalls were damaged or destroyed. The geographical area would remain vulnerable to storm surges for the remainder of the 2005 hurricane season and future hurricane seasons without significant repairs to the protection system. An overview of the resulting $800 million design and construction program, to include hurricane protection infrastructure goals, repairs completed and readiness for the 2006 hurricane season, will be presented.