About - The Corps Foundation

ABOUT THE CORPS FOUNDATION

Who We Are

The Corps Foundation is a not-for-profit educational foundation incorporated in 2006 to support lakes and waterway sites located throughout the U.S. and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The Corps Foundation operates in a cooperative relationship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to foster contributions and partnerships that support environmental and recreation projects at Corps operated lakes and waterways. We engage the support of members, contributors, businesses, community and “Friends” organizations to collaborate with USACE in providing vital services to the public.

Our Mission

The Corps Foundation engages the public to support recreation, education, and stewardship at our nation’s lakes, lands, and waterways, administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Vision

A well-informed public and national network of partners working to sustain Corps lakes and waterways for generations to come.

Why People Support Us

Visitors come to the lakes and waterways managed by the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers to boat, swim, fish, camp, and hike. These recreation experiences enrich people’s lives, and create unforgettable memories and connections to nature that will last a lifetime. Joining the Corps Foundation will:

Expand educational programs for schools and visitors
Strengthen partnerships to compete for grant opportunities
Support training of field staff
Advocate for increased funding for recreation facilities managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Our Board of Directors

These are the dedicated individuals who volunteer their time and energy to keep the Corps Foundation up and running, and on course to fulfill the mission and achieve the goals stated above.

Greg Miller – Chairperson

Greg retired from the Corps of Engineers after serving 34 years as a Recreation Program Manager for the South Atlantic Division, Park Ranger and Natural Resource Specialist. He served on numerous committees including the Corps of Engineers Partnership Advisory Committee, the Recreation Leadership Advisory Team and the National Recreation Reservation Service planning team. Greg is a Founder and longtime member of the National Association for Interpretation. He was the Corps liaison to the Corps Foundation throughout its formation and startup. Greg holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Missouri in Fisheries and Wildlife, and earned his Masters degree in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Missouri. He has received numerous awards during his career including the Commander Awards for Civilian Service, the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, Professional Federal Employee of the Year and the Hiram M. Chittenden Award for Interpretive Excellence.

Rich Deline – Founding Director

Rich is founder and key principal of Executive Productions-Seattle, a multimedia production company. Rich has worked as a consultant and contractor for the Corps nationwide, providing expertise in interpretation and technology for improving the visitor experience. Additionally he has helped prepare command briefings and presentations for numerous Seattle District Commanders. He has an intimate working knowledge of the Corps of Engineer’s Mission and Values from both inside and outside perspectives. Rich was graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Forestry Engineering and a minor in Civil/Mechanical Engineering, and continued with Masters program in Business and Marketing at Portland State University.

Rich has produced numerous award-winning films and interactive touchscreen programs for the Corps and other nationwide clients. He serves on the board of the Suquamish Tribal Foundation and the Jayhawk Institute and has received two District Commander awards and one Commanding General award for Excellence in Service.

Marilyn K. Jones – Director, Treasurer

Marilyn is a Lifetime Member of the Foundation and served as the Foundation’s volunteer secretary from 2009-2013. Her July 2013 retirement allowed her to join the Foundation’s Board as a full Director. Marilyn completed her 33 year career with the US Army Corps of Engineers as Operations Project Manager, at Tioga-Hammond & Cowanesque Lakes Project in Pennsylvania. Marilyn previously served as Lake Manager of Table Rock Lake, as well as Cooper Dam and Jim Chapman Lakes and was acting Operations Project Manager of Beaver Lake for a year. She served eight years as Secretary of the Board of Directors for National Society of Park Resources, is a lifetime member of the Army Engineer Association and has been a longtime member of National Recreation and Park Association, Society of American Foresters and National Association of Recreation Resource Planners. Marilyn received many awards, commendations and Commanders Coins during her years service, most notably 2002 Chief of Engineers Hero of the Regiment, Little Rock District Woman of the Year and 3 Chief of Engineers Commanders Coin. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, from University of the Ozarks.

Sue Clevenstine – Secretary

Sue found an appreciation for the out-of-doors while attending Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, graduating with a BS in Recreation Management. She was hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1981 as a park technician. She worked in recreation and natural resources management throughout her 33-year career. At the time of her retirement she was an Outdoor Recreation Planner.

Sue worked on many national, division and district committees to include: recreation use fees regulation, Lewis and Clark, VA instructor, strategic planning, partnerships, water safety. She was a long time member of Association of Interpretive Naturalists and the National Association for Interpretation.

Always an advocate for partnering she is excited to be a part of the foundation to help the Corps become better partners through changes to current authorities and providing support to Lake and River projects throughout the nation.

Nancy Rogers – Board Member; Advocacy and Outreach

B.S. Resource Conservation, Univ. of Montana-1976. Park Ranger, both seasonally (NPS) and permanent (USACE) from 1974 to 2010 (retired) in a wide variety of disciplines; recreation design and management, interpretation (including extensive exhibit development), partnerships, cooperating associations, and FLETC graduate in Law Enforcement. Administrative skills include budgeting, supervision, planning and project management, contracting. Served on numerous committees of national scope throughout my career including uniforms, interpretation, Visitor Center Study. Presented professional papers at regional and national conferences related to interpretation, partnerships and cooperating associations. Served as coordinator of the Corps’ Cooperating Association website on the Gateway. Instructor in the Corps’ Interpretive Services course. Retired as Senior Park Ranger, San Francisco District, US Army Corps of Engineers in 2010 after 34 years with the Corps.

Nancy has a good understanding of cooperating associations and partnerships and strongly believes that the future success of the Corps’ Natural Resource Mgmt. Program will depend on thinking outside-the-box of the traditional budgeting structure. Nancy’s priority is Increasing advocacy for legislative changes with Congressional representatives.

Kent Dunlap – Board Member

Kent comes to the Foundation with an impressive range of skills and experiences from his 40-year career with the Operations Program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He began his career as a GS-4 Park Technician in Oklahoma and continued his advancement to eventually serve as the GS-14 Operations Project Manager with the Fort Worth District in Oklahoma. Kent augmented his Operations positions with many other assignments and opportunities throughout the agency.

Kent is an Oklahoma native who grew up recreating at local Corps managed lakes in Oklahoma, that formed his love and passion for what outdoor recreation can offer. In particular Kent learned early in life that lakes managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were central to families creating memories and traditions. When it came time for Kent to find a path forward for his career, he knew what that he wanted to be a Park Ranger for USACE. The Foundation looks forward to utilizing the broad perspectives and experiences of Kent’s career to move its programs and advocacy forward. But most importantly, in Kent’s own words, “I understand how the Corps “works”, the budget process from every level, the partners that are a key for us, and the challenges. And honestly, I bring a passion to support this mission, even after retirement.”

Avis Kennedy – Board Member

Avis worked for 33 years in the Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Management Program in Nashville District, including positions as Park Ranger, Outdoor Recreation Planner, and Conservation Biologist. She retired in 2011 after 15 years as the Chief of Natural Resources Management Branch for the Nashville District. Along the way, she served in temporary positions as Planner, Resource Manager at Cordell Hull and J. Percy Priest Lakes, and Chief, Regulatory Branch. In 2008, she served temporarily as the national Business Line Manager for Stewardship in the Corps Headquarters. In 2013, Avis was awarded the Nashville District’s Distinguished Civilian Award. In 2017, she rejoined the Corps to take a job as Project Manager for revision of the Raystown Lake Master Plan in Baltimore District, retiring again in 2019 just after receiving her 35-year pin. Avis has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Southern Illinois University. She served two years as the Chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Regional Resource Stewardship Council and eight years as a Council member. Avis was previously a member of the Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation Advisory Council.

Sam Wagner – Board Member

Sam brings a wealth of experience including Park Management, Outdoor Recreation Planning, Security Manager, and Ecologist. Sam retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2017 after serving for 25 years.

His love for the outdoors led to a degree in Parks and Recreation Administration from Penn State, while working as a summer Ranger and intern for County Parks and Pennsylvania State Parks.

Sam also had a dual career serving in all three components of the Army – active duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve from 1982-2016. He served in Iraq for one year- earning a Bronze Star Medal. He earned a Master of Strategic Studies in 2012 from the US Army War College.

Darrell E. Lewis – Founding Director and Treasurer Emeritus

Darrell served more than 20 years as Chief, Natural Resources Management branch in the Headquarters of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has over 35 years experience working for three federal land management agencies. He is a longtime member of the National Society for Park Resources and served on it’s board for two terms and as President for one term.

Darrell is recipient of the Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the Corps of Engineers, the William Penn Mott, Jr. Award for Meritorious Service from the National Society for Parks and Recreation, the Recreation Legends Award from the American Recreation Coalition, National Recreation Resource Leadership Award from the National Association of Recreation Resource Planners and the Legends of Parks and Recreation Program designation by The American Academy for the Park and Recreation Administration. He was graduated from Washington State University and holds a Masters degree in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan.

Peter B. Lewis – Director Emeritus and Founding Chairman

Beginning with broadcast radio and television, Peter is celebrating 50 years in aural and visual communications industries. He is currently President of AUDISEE/Sound which he founded in 1988, to produce sound environments for exhibitions and large public spaces. As creative consultant to NIKE, Coca-Cola, Nintendo, adidas and others he has designed sound experiences for the Olympics, World Cup and World’s Fairs. He has won dozens of national and international awards for these and other specialty presentations and events.

Peter was graduated from La Jolla High School in 1962, and is a longtime member of AFTRA, a published author of non-fiction and Executive Director of the CarTours Foundation, a non-profit organization producing educational and interpretive audio tours for National Parks and Historic Byways.

The Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation, doing business as The Corps Foundation, is the only nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to supporting our nation’s lakes, rivers and their many resources at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lakes and waterways.

The Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID #20-5545091