FORT DRUM, NY -- Fort Drum garrison leaders have selected an Army engineer who arrived here nearly 40 years ago to be the Association of the United States Army’s 2011 Civilian of the Year.
James W. Corriveau, Public Works director, was singled out as a “dedicated professio- nal” who has made a “significant impact” on quality-of-life issues for Fort Drum community members.
“It is a humbling experience to be recognized in this way,” said Corriveau, who began his Army career at Fort Drum as a lieutenant in 1974. “I’m just so proud to be leading the extraordinary Public Works team. You surround yourself with exceptional folks, and sooner or later the spotlight will single you out.”
The annual award, sponsored by the Northern New York-Fort Drum chapter of AUSA, is presented to any current or recently retired Department of the Army civilian who demonstrates exemplary service to the Army, AUSA and the local community.
Corriveau grew up in Springfield, Mass. After graduating with ROTC at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., he attended engineer schooling at Fort Belvoir, Va., before reporting in September 1974 to what was known at the time as Camp Drum.
As a lieutenant, Corriveau helped teach National Guardsmen and Reservists to construct timber trestle bridges, range towers, tank trails and other troop projects. Once he completed four years of active-duty service, he became a Department of the Army civilian employee and joined the Army Reserves.
Corriveau, who is married to Mary Corriveau, Watertown’s city manager, retired from the Army Reserves in 2004 with the rank of colonel. He has a 37-year-old son, Daniel, a stay-at-home dad whose previous career involved designing submarines at a shipyard in Norfolk, Va.
“For all the opportunity that the Army has provided my Family and me since signing into Camp Drum in 1974, I’m forever grateful,” Corriveau said. “There is no more fulfilling work than serving our Soldiers and Families here in the North Country. As an engineer, building up the Fort Drum infrastructure through two major expansions continues as a dream assignment.”
In addition to managing Fort Drum’s complex and demanding housing situation, Corriveau oversees numerous construction and renovation projects by integrating his team alongside government contractors.
He is also making sustainable and secure energy at Fort Drum a priority by pooling public and private resources to convert an idle coal-fired power plant on South Post into a biomass electric-generating plant run on wood chips. The project could have the capacity to power the entire installation and take Fort Drum permanently off the grid.
As a former Eagle Scout, Corriveau mentored young Boy Scouts in his community by volunteering as an assistant scoutmaster. He also devoted his time to three churches in the town of Theresa, where for 23 years he directed a choir and played the organ at the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church and the Episcopal Church.
“We rotated from one church to the other throughout the year,” he said. “The Episcopal Church had no heat, so that was the summertime church. They had a nice pump organ in that one. The nicest pipe organ was in the Presbyterian Church.”
For Corriveau, helping community members both on and off post is a family affair. His wife got very involved in the local AUSA while he was deployed to Bosnia in 1997. He became a member when he redeployed to Fort Drum.
“You cannot find another (AUSA) group more dedicated to looking out for our Soldiers and Families,” he said of the local chapter. “Here is the one local organization that continually sponsors recreational events for Fam- ilies, celebrates Soldier achievement through formal recognition and embraces unit leadership into the North Country.
“At the national level,” he added, “AUSA is a big advocate on Capitol Hill, telling Congress what the Army needs and getting after congressmen and senators.”
Corriveau will be recognized June 10 during Fort Drum’s first installationwide Army Birthday Ball at the Commons. He also will compete with nine other AUSA sub-chapters and then potentially compete nationally later this year.
Joe McLaughlin, president of the NNY-Fort Drum chapter of AUSA, said he was very pleased with Corriveau’s selection.
“Jim’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Soldiers, Families and the civilian work force can be seen on every corner,” said McLaughlin, retired Fort Drum garrison command sergeant major. “His commitment and expertise are a big reason why Fort Drum is the Army’s best-kept secret, and he is truly deserving of this honor.”
With 33 years of expertise and counting, Corriveau’s Army career continues.
“One of these days, I’ll get forced to retire, I suppose,” he said. “But not just yet.”
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