July 27th Luncheon Meeting with Lunch!

History of the US Army Corps of Engineers

Celebration of new Life Members 

Please join us for our first in-person Monthly Luncheon Meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. There will be a presentation on the history of the Army Corps of Engineers, recognition of Life Members, and box lunches.

About the Presentation:  The US Army Corps of Engineers was formed in 1929.  Their initial mission was to improve flood control and navigation in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.  The Stockton Deep Water Channel was built in 1934 and many dams were constructed during the 1950's and 1960's.  The last 50 years have been focused on ecological restoration; clean-up of former military defense sites; flood management, awareness, and response; response to fire and hurricane disasters; management of river navigation and 300,000 miles of waterways.  Recent mega projects include the Folsom Dam Auxilliary Spillway, levee improvements, and solar/wind/energy projects to help military bases be totally energy independent.  

About Life Members: Life Members have reached the age of 65, have paid ASCE dues for 35 years at any grade excluding at the student grade, and have paid dues continuously for the immediate past 10 years prior to becoming a Life Member. 

Moreover ASCE Life Members are the stalwarts of the Civil Engineering profession.  They hale from all different types of companies, agencies, and academia; they cover the gammet of CE types; they have retired, unretired, and started new careers.  Life Member longevity and stories are instructive to the rest of us: current leaders, the next generation, and event students.  Whether you are 80 or 18; life is short.  You won't want to miss this opportunity to rub elbows with Life Members!  Congratulations to: 

CLASS of 2020: Charles Binder, Daniel Breg, Hasmet Celik, Terry Davis, George Harris,  Thomas Holland, Bruce Kutter, Richard Land, Kenneth Laudenschlager, Gregg Magaziner, Ramzi Mahmood,  Mark Martin, Edward McCarthy, Arthur O'Brien, Drew Perry, Stuart Robertson, Daniel Steiner, Terence Street, Kuen Tsay,  Steven Viani.

CLASS of 2021: Larry Dacus, James Helmich, James Calkins, Eric Polson

CLASS of 2022: Gary Albertson, Cyrus Aryani, William Ashley, Wendy Cohen, Craig Copelan, Joyce Copelan, Craig Drake,  Martin Hanneman, Kenny Kwong, David Okita, Robert Roscoe, Craig Trombly, Frederick Turner

Register Now!The price of the box lunches is $37 for tri-tip, and $35 for poultry or veggie.  Members, Life Members, Students, and New Life Members receive a $10, $15, $20, and 100% discount respectively using the following promo codes:

• ASCE Branch Members, MEMBER
• ASCE Life Members, LIFER
• ASCE Student Members, STUDENT
• ASCE NEW Life Member, NEWLIFER

About the Speaker

Luke Burns is a Public Affairs Specialist at the Sacramento District and he has been with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 8 years. He is the district’s Social Media Manager and he covers the water resource projects along the Sierra Nevada. He regularly produces videos and online content for organizations throughout the Corps. Prior to his position with SPK, he was the Senior Producer at the American Forces Network - Europe affiliate in Belgium where he ran the radio department and contributed video stories to air on local newscasts and around the world to service members and their families station overseas.

Before becoming a government civilian employee, Luke served for 12 years in the Army. He began his career as a Psychological Operations Specialist paratrooper, but cross trained into broadcast journalism and public affairs where he finished his service. During that time he held the positions of Morning Radio DJ, Field Reporter, News Director, Chief of Command Information and Station Manager. His last job in the Army was as a Broadcast Skills Instructor at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Maryland.

His awards included Army Broadcast Journalist of the Year, American Forces Network – Europe Civilian of the Year, Thomas Jefferson award for best radio commercial, Thomas Jefferson award for best TV commercial, Thomas Jefferson award for best radio newscast, Keith L. Ware award for best radio news report, Keith L. Ware award for best information campaign and numerous local and regional broadcast awards.

Luke is a California native who grew up in the Sacramento area. He attended Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs and he graduated from Thomas Edison State Collage with a degree in communications. He is married to his high-school sweetheart Heidi and they have two children, Cali (15) and Izzy (13).