BAGHDAD - They call him "Alpha Dog" for staring down a "vicious" dog a few weeks ago, but Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Norby, a native of Tioga, La. with the 225th Engineer Brigade, is really more of a gentle giant who oversees construction work being done at various sites throughout Abu Ghraib.
Nordby, a stout Soldier with a calm demeanor, is the Task Force Paxton engineer projects noncommissioned officer-in-charge for the 225th. He is currently responsible for quality assurance and quality control of some 27 projects that include anything as basic as patching a hole in the bathroom of a local clinic to the more massive undertaking of renovating a huge cold storage building for Iraq's largest milk factory that was reportedly destroyed by terrorists in 2006.
"We'll have to knock down the walls and ceiling and basically rebuild it," said Nordby, referring to the 90 day project to gut and restore the fire damaged building which once housed large refrigerators for products like raw cheese and various types of milk.
Nordby said money for these types of projects is made available through brigade funds. When the work is done, Nordby said it will positively affect the lives of many Iraqis.
"It will increase the production level of the factory, which is now at about 20 percent," said Nordby. "That helps the government of Iraq get back on its feet, and it means more milk for the children."
One of the top civilian engineer advisors who is the liaison official between coalition forces and local contractors agreed that these kinds of projects will help create a viable economy for the people of Iraq.
"The milk factory is number one here and very popular in Baghdad," said Mudhafar Janab, a bilingual bicultural advisor. "When the work is done here, 100 or more Iraqis will be employed and it will improve the economy of Abu Ghraib."
At a nearby site, Iraqi civilians are building a school supply warehouse as part of the same program. Currently, the 153 schools in Abu Ghraib have no room for storage. Nordby said the warehouse will not only provide relief for the schools, but also room for school copy machines which are now on order and is expected to be fully functional in around three weeks.
Job sites like these take careful oversight to make sure money is spent properly and standards are met.
"We're making sure they are doing what they need to do," said Lt. Col. Michael Ude, a Hornbeck, La. native, the 225th Eng. Bde. projects officer-in-charge who works closely with Nordby and other four other inspection teams throughout Baghdad.
Ude said so far he is pleased with the work being done. He said the Iraqis will have something to feel positive about when construction is completed.
"It will show them, 'hey, look at what your government is doing for you,'" he said.
"It is also a good deterrent to terrorist elements because it shows that progress is being made, and when you have 'Alpha Dog' on your side, that can only be a plus," Ude said with a smile.
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