FORT MEADE, Md. - Two Royal Engineer officers recently briefed the British defence attaché on their work in support of Baltimore District projects on Fort Meade and at the Harrisburg Area Office.
Capts. Henry Crosby and Brad Southall provided their update briefings to Maj. Gen. Richard Cripwell during his visit and projects tour at the East Campus Area Office (ECAO).
Col. Ed Chamberlayne, district engineer, also provided an overview to the general. "We are a unique blend of military and civilians," he said.
"I might be the British defence attaché, but I have been an army engineer for over 30 years and I very much enjoyed the chance to visit the work being done by the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Meade," the general said. "The scale and complexity of the work is considerable, and I am delighted that two officers from my Corps have had the chance to play their part in this work. The professional exchange program between our armies has been running for many years and remains an integral part of the training we need to certify as professional engineers. I am most grateful to Col. Chamberlayne and his great team for hosting my visit, but more importantly for helping to foster such important links between our Services."
Crosby earned a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from Loughborough University in central England. A veteran of eight years in the British army, he arrived to work on Corps projects in April.
Like Southall, he is actually in an academic program with three components: he completed seven months of post graduate academic study at the Royal School of Military Engineering in Kent, U.K. (accredited by Cranfield University), followed by practical site and design experience working for USACE here. At the same time, he is required to write a thesis for a master's degree. "The experience I obtain here supports the educational side of the program," Crosby noted.
During his planned 15 months in the District, he will spend nine months at the Harrisburg Area Office followed by six months in the Engineering Division's design branch.
"The Corps has been very supportive in providing the experiences I require for the program," he said. Currently, he is working to convert the Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, boiler room from oil power to natural gas. "This equipment was installed in the 1980s with a mechanical life of 15-25 years. Now, we will refit the room including the boilers, control systems and piping to make it more efficient."
He is also working on a wastewater replacement plant project.
When the program time and academic requirements are completed, Crosby will sit for an extensive interview and examination at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in order to earn the coveted Chartered Engineer credential (equivalent to the Professional Engineer designation in the United States).
Southall, working ECAO projects, will also blend practical experience with academic preparation in his drive to become a Chartered Engineer. Upon returning to England, he will also sit before a panel at the Institution of Civil Engineers for a similar assessment of both his practical experience and academic capability.
A five year veteran of the British army, he arrived last February during a snow storm. Recently married, he and his wife had to find housing, cars and take care of the myriad of details needed for this kind of assignment. This included finding a grocer who carried real British tea.
"I have a civil engineering degree from Coventry University and worked as a railroad design engineer for two years. I was a reserve soldier at the time, which sparked the transition to the regular army in 2010," Southall said.
His work at the ECAO includes contract review and construction administration on projects. The variety of work covers civil and structural issues as well as construction quality assurance.
His experience has been more project manager than swinging a hammer. "My original experience was in combat engineering so this is completely different. I get to experience both program and specific project management on large scale construction."
His later work in Baltimore District will also include time in the military design branch in Engineering Division.
Both officers are part of a long-running military-to-military type exchange program that has been going on for more than 25 years with the Baltimore District.
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