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.
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.
Christine Hamman– Board Member; Treasurer
Founding Director Darrel Lewis (emeritus) invited Christine—an experienced
bookkeeper—to volunteer her expertise in establishing and managing the Foundation’s books starting in 2007. Since then, Christine has served as Assistant to the Foundation Treasurer and is now the Corp Foundation’s Treasurer and serves as a Board Member. As a self-employed business owner and manager, Christine brings a wealth of bookkeeping experience with both non-profit and for-profit organizations as diverse as a roller derby club, homeowner’s association, bindery company, internet media firm, insurance company, Arabian horse association, networking group, and a cappella chorus. Christine values the opportunity to provide her services and is proud to serve on the Corps Foundation Board. The Foundation is thankful to Christine for her dedication and assistance since its inception and now as valued Board member!
Scott Sunderland– Board Member
Scott retired after 42 years of service with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that started with his seasonal park ranger in college and culminating as Park Manager at Blue Marsh Lake in the Philadelphia District. Scott has served on just about all of the various USACE internal teams related to recreation, natural resources and partnerships. In addition, Scott was a key contributor to the effort that led to Blue Marsh Lake being selected as the 2013 Chief of Engineer’s Project of the Year award. He also honored Blue Marsh Lake’s key partner -the Berks Area Mountain Biking Association, recognized as the Excellence in Partnership Award for 2021.Scott culminated his career by receiving the US Army Corps of Engineers 2024 Legends Award from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. The Foundation is lucky to have Scott’s expertise and passion for the Recreation and Natural Resources Programs for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
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.
Rachel Garren – Board Member
Rachel Garren worked more than 31 years in various roles for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), St. Louis District, including Park Ranger, Natural Resource Specialist, and part-time Assistant National Water Safety Program Manager. She received many awards throughout her career, including the USACE Legends Award, USACE Hiram M. Chittenden Award, and National Interpretive Association’s Master Interpretive Manager Award, to name a few. Post retirement, from 2014-2025, she worked for the Corps Foundation to manage $1.735 Million in U.S. Coast Guard grants to promote the award-winning Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns campaign in partnership with USACE. Since 2025, she has been volunteering to serve on the Corps Foundation board. Rachel is an avid boater and enjoys spending time on the water, always promoting safety with her family and friends.
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