Former U.S. Army drill sergeant takes helm at nation's premier inland navigation planning center

By U.S. ArmyOctober 3, 2014

Former drill sergeant takes helm at nation's premier inland navigation planning center
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Former U.S. Army drill sergeant, Patrick "PJ" Donovan, was selected as the newest chief of the Planning Center of Expertise for Inland Navigation & Risk-Informed Economics Division (PCXIN-RED), a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asset located in Huntingt... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Former drill sergeant takes helm at nation's premier inland navigation planning center
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Planning Center of Expertise for Inland Navigation & Risk-Informed Economics Division, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asset located in Huntington, W. Va., consists of a team of economists, engineers, and operations research analysts committed to ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. -- Patrick "PJ" Donovan was selected as the newest chief of the Planning Center of Expertise for Inland Navigation & Risk-Informed Economics Division (PCXIN-RED), a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asset located in Huntington, W. Va.

A seasoned veteran of the transportation and logistics industry as well as the craft of planning and development, Donovan came to PCXIN-RED from the Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute (RTI). At RTI, Donovan was the director for Maritime and Intermodal Transportation; responsible for establishing, managing and implementing programs to facilitate the development of transportation facilities that support the Appalachian Region's integration into the global economy.

Donovan, who assumed the chief post at PCXIN-RED August 25, now directs a team of economists, engineers, and operations research analysts committed to supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inland navigation planning needs at both the national and international levels. The Corps operates and maintains 227 lock chambers at 185 sites within the nation's vast inland waterway system; a system that contains 12,000 miles of waterways, enough to stretch halfway around the world with depths of at least 9 feet. The U.S. Inland Waterway system moves over 550 million tons of commodities annually and is an important alternative to rail and truck.

Other duties fulfilled by the PCXIN-RED include:

• Inland navigation planning consulting services to Corps districts and major subordinate commands, non-Federal interests and international customers

• Conducting key analytical components of inland navigation planning studies, or entire studies, as determined by higher authorities

• Independent technical review of inland navigation planning products

• Advising the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters, Corps laboratories and other stakeholders on significant regional and nation-wide inland navigation planning issues

• Guiding research and development priorities for Corps inland navigation planning

• Coordinating the development of and participating in training related to inland navigation planning

• Managing a program of 'lessons learned' through coordination with planning expertise centers by sponsoring workshops, technology transfer and web-based support

• Supplementing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters staff in policy compliance review for inland navigation planning

• Enhancing basic planning expertise throughout the Corps by providing or creating developmental opportunities for individuals having specialized planning expertise in inland navigation

At its core, "we provide the best economics risk analysis; quantifying the value of the inland navigation system so leaders can make vital, risk-informed decisions," said Donovan of the PCXIN-RED.

Among his top priorities as chief are to increase and improve stakeholder engagement activities, enable the success of his staff by cultivating leadership opportunities and an environment that rewards innovative thinking, and marshalling the power of collective impact by partnering with industry, sister agencies, academia and the non-profit sector to develop solutions addressing the 21st century supply chain.

Donovan said among the biggest challenges facing inland navigation planning are aging infrastructure (the first Corps lock opened to traffic in 1885) and embracing virtual collaboration (partners often must collaborate over long distances, using new and emerging technologies).

Although Donovan is newly hired into federal civil service, he has extensive experience partnering with the Corps and other federal agencies since he is the former director of the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Public Port Authority, an agency he served for nearly 10 years.

"PJ (Donovan) was selected by the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Director of Programs through a corporate hiring panel that was highly competitive," said U.S. Army Col. Leon Parrott, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District. "He brings a wealth of experience, new ideas and enthusiasm to the job."

A former U.S. Army drill sergeant, military police specialist and first sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard, Donovan, 49, holds both a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in geography from Marshall University. In his free time, Donovan serves on various boards including the Putnam County Parks and Recreation Commission where he is the president. He also coaches his children's sports teams. Donovan credits his father, a life-long volunteer who supported youth athletics and community service, as his inspiration for giving back to the community. Donovan is a resident of Hurricane, W. Va. where he lives with his wife, Amy. His children are Megan, Jennifer, Sean and Tom.

Related Links:

Planning Center of Expertise for Inland Navigation Outreach

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters