As a small child, building and figuring out how something worked appealed to Tricia Campbell.
“ While I was growing up, I was either building things or taking them apart to see how they operated ,” said Campbell. “Eventually I discovered I wanted to be an engineer and I feel very blessed for having the opportunity to become one in both the active-duty Army and now as a civilian with the Corps of Engineers.”
When Campbell retired from the U.S. Army as a captain in January 2011, she had been assigned with USACE Galveston District for four years. Instead of pursuing a career with another organization, she replaced her uniform with civilian attire and remained with the district, working to keep navigation moving along the Texas coastline as an operations manager in the Navigation Branch.
“ I coordinate and execute maintenance dredging and construction contracts necessary to maintain the nation’s waterways and ensure safe navigation,” said Campbell. “I also coordinate with local sponsors to develop projects that will benefit both waterway users and local industry.”
While these projects can be very complicated to execute, Campbell says she enjoys the challenge.
“I like solving problems and seeing the projects that we design come to fruition, ” said Campbell. “ Even when things don’t happen exactly as planned, we always find a way to resolve the problem and get the job done. ”
Campbell recently oversaw the awarding of a $9.5 million maintenance dredging contract for the Houston Ship Channel and Greens Bayou. She’s also responsible for Galveston Harbor Channel, Bayport Ship Channel and Barbours Cut Terminal Channel.
In addition to enjoying the challenges that come with engineering, Campbell takes pride in knowing the projects she directs are important to the prosperity of the nation.
“Managing operations and maintenance projects on federal waterways helps ensure safe and reliable navigation for waterway users, which is critical to our nation’s economy, ” said Campbell. “ Our project delivery teams work together in order to design, construct and maintain projects that benefit the nation.”
Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University in 2002, a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 2006 (since renamed Missouri University of Science and Technology), and became a licensed professional engineer in Texas in 2008.
A native of Indianapolis, Campbell enjoys playing golf, coaching USACE Galveston’s co-ed softball team and cheering on the Chicago Cubs.
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Dredging Today Staff, April 12, 2012; Image: usace